Tenor Placido Domingo Schedules First Central Asia Performance in Astana, Kazakhstan

WASHINGTON, DC (Top40 Charts/ Astana Akimat PR) - Placido Domingo will give his first-ever concert in Central Asia in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, on July 5 at the Palace of Independence, kicking off festivities for Astana's 11th anniversary. "Domingo's visit to Kazakhstan confirms my country's rich musical heritage and high appreciation of arts and culture," said Erlan Idrissov, Kazakhstan's ambassador to the U.S. "His performance is one more milestone in Kazakhstan's remarkable transformation from Soviet times to independence, and it shows leadership of Kazakhstan in the region."

Kazakhstan will host Domingo during celebrations for the Day of the Capital. Domingo will perform with internationally acclaimed soprano Virginia Tola, celebrated conductor Eugene Kohn, and the Astana State Philharmonic Orchestra.

Domingo said, "It is a great honor for me to perform in Astana during the national holiday - it's the perfect setting to make my Central Asia debut."

Born in Madrid, Spain, into a family of local Zarzuela (the Spanish version of operetta) stars, Domingo began his career at age 8, accompanying his mother's recitals and singing minor baritone roles in his parents' company. Since then, Domingo has performed in all major opera houses, including Milan's La Scala, Vienna's Staatsoper, London's Royal Opera House, Opera National de Paris, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Liceu in Barcelona, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Madrid's Teatro Real, Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, and at the Bayreuth and Salzburg Festivals. His repertoire includes 130 stage roles - a number unmatched by any other celebrated tenor in history. In addition, Domingo has completed more than 100 recordings of complete operas, compilations of arias and duets, and crossover disks, earning 11 Grammy Awards and two Latin Grammy Awards.