The much-anticipated appearance of Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo in San José has reached a new level of hype with the addition of Costa Rican diva Iride Martínez to the act. Martínez, a renowned soprano who was the first Tica to sing at the famous La Scala opera house in Milan, will join Domingo Nov. 14 at the Ricardo Saprissa Stadium in the northern San José district of Tibás. The pair will sing two Spanish opera duets, but have yet to announce which ones.
Tickets, which range from $30 to $285, are already about 60 percent sold and may be gone within a week, now that Martínez has been added to the billing, according to José Cañas, press agent for the concert.
“Ticos, like always, are waiting for the last minute (to buy tickets),” Cañas said. “In a week we think it’ll be sold out.”
Tickets can be purchased at Auto Mercado stores and BAC San José bank branches, or online at www.specialticket.net.
Martínez and Domingo have performed together before, four years ago in Vienna. In August, Martínez told The Tico Times that she loves singing with Domingo.
“He’s a great artist, a total gentleman, a phenomenal person,” she said. “One particular thing about Plácido Domingo, for example, is that he sings with his whole heart and soul, and he gives the public everything. He doesn’t hold anything back or economize, but brings everything to the stage.”
Martínez was in the country in August to perform in the countrywide Credomatic Music Festival.
The soprano’s distinguished career was launched in 1998 when she was named young artist of the year by a panel of 50 music critics for her performance at the Munich State Opera. She is married to pianist Siegmund Weinmeister of Austria and lives in central Italy (TT, Aug. 22).
Domingo, 67, has performed in operas and TV shows alike, and is known for his versatility and musical abilities. He has won nine Grammy awards.
Martínez will also sing with mezzosoprano Nancy Fabiola Herrera from Venezuela, who accompanies Domingo in his performances.
