There are concerts you go to with excitement. Others with curiosity. But then there are those you attend with reverence — because you know you’re about to witness a piece of living history. Last night in Bern, I wasn’t just watching an artist perform. I was watching a memory come to life. A legacy, a monument. I was watching Plácido Domingo.
Invited by the wonderful team at Association Avetis, I had the pleasure of attending a recital that was as moving as it was masterfully curated. Held in the refined setting of the Casino Bern, the evening was split in two acts: the first half dedicated to Italian opera, and the second offering a rich tapestry of Spanish songs and a few German pieces. At the piano, the brilliant James Vaughan provided the perfect musical canvas for the voices to shine.
The concert alternated between solos by Plácido Domingo, the radiant Varduhi Khachatryan, and several intimate, touching duets between them. Varduhi’s voice was warm, expressive, and technically flawless — a perfect partner to Domingo’s seasoned timbre. Their duet moments reminded us that opera is not just about voice, but about storytelling and soul.
But let’s be honest — the evening belonged to him.
To witness Plácido Domingo, at 84 years old, still performing, still captivating audiences with that unmistakable presence, is not just a privilege — it’s an emotional experience. Before seeing a singer on stage, I saw a memory. Because if you love opera, you have a memory of Plácido Domingo. Maybe it’s his Cavaradossi in Tosca. Maybe it’s his Otello under the baton of Karajan. Or maybe, like many, you remember him as part of the Three Tenors, next to Luciano Pavarotti and JosĂ© Carreras, filling stadiums and bringing opera to millions.
He has sung more than 150 roles — a world record — across every major opera house: the Met, La Scala, Vienna, Covent Garden, Paris. He has shared the stage with legends: Montserrat Caballé, Renata Scotto, Leontyne Price, Angela Gheorghiu, Anna Netrebko. He has conducted orchestras, led opera houses (including Los Angeles Opera and Washington National Opera), and tirelessly promoted opera around the globe.
Domingo is not just a tenor or a baritone. He is an institution.
Last night, his voice may not have had the brightness of his younger years, but it had something even more powerful: truth. Every note was honest. Every phrase came from decades of experience, love, and an unbreakable bond with the music. And his charisma — still immense. He spoke to the audience, joked, laughed, moved with the natural grace of someone who has lived on stage for over 60 years.
Special thanks go to Association Avetis, who continue to bring such remarkable musical evenings to Switzerland and around the world. After the beautiful “Gala Mozart” a few weeks ago and ahead of an upcoming duo concert between Plácido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli at the Arena of Geneva, they are clearly creating cultural magic. A personal and heartfelt thank you to Arsen, for his warmth and his unwavering commitment to music lovers.
Thank you, Gracias, Merci, Danke, Maestro Domingo.
