PLÁCIDO DOMINGO AND IMG ARTISTS
ANNOUNCE THE INAUGURAL
PLÁCIDO DOMINGO FESTIVAL 
TO TAKE PLACE IN ANDALUCÍA, SPAIN
25^th OCTOBER – 3^rd NOVEMBER, 2012

26^th September 2012 – Plácido Domingo and IMG Artists are delighted to announce the first edition of the Plácido Domingo Festival, taking place in Seville and Malaga from 25^th October until 3^rd November, 2012. Chosen by Maestro Domingo for its rich operatic and cultural heritage, the Andalucían region will play host to a feast of performances featuring high profile stars from the operatic and concert platforms including Vittorio Grigolo, Ana María Martínez, Joaquín Achúcarro, Ángel Romero, Nino Machaidze, Micaëla Oeste, Angel Blue, Pinchas Zukerman, Danielle de Niese, Nina Kotova and Ivo Pogorelich.

The Festival opens on 25^th October at the Maestranza Theatre in Seville with a fully-staged production of Massenet’s Thaïs. The performance stars Plácido as Athanael alongside sopranos Nino Machaidze and Micaëla Oeste, accompanied by Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, conducted by their Artistic Director Pedro Halffter. Further performances take place on 28^th and 31^st October.

The Real Alcázar in Seville provides a majestic setting for four exclusive chamber concerts, scheduled to take place in the Salón de los Tapices. On 27^th October, one of the world’s preeminent violinists, Pinchas Zukerman, performs with his trio, featuring pianist Angela Cheng and cellist Amanda Forsyth. This is followed by a concert with the legendary Spanish guitar virtuoso Ángel Romero and celebrated Russian cellist Nina Kotova on 29^th October. Danielle de Niese – «Opera’s coolest soprano» (The New York Times) – is accompanied by Cameron Stowe on the 30^th, before closing with a jazz evening featuring the talented young sopranos and Operalia prize winners Micaëla Oeste and Angel Blue on 1^st November.

In Malaga, the Teatro Cervantes hosts an Opera Gala on 26^th October. Conducted by Maestro Domingo, dynamic tenor Vittorio Grigolo and Grammy® award winning soprano Ana María Martínez will be joined by Romero and accompanied by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga. On 28^th October, Zukerman performs the Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1and Joaquín Achúcarro plays Falla’s Noches en los Jardines de España, again with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, conducted by its Music Director, Edmon Colomer.

Ivo Pogorelich performs Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 on 2^nd and 3^rd November, at the Maestranza in Seville, with the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, conducted by Halffter.

Plácido Domingo said: «I am thrilled that such wonderful and highly accomplished guest artists will join me for my inaugural festival. These will be my first performances in the culturally rich and historically important cities of Seville and Malaga in a number of years, and I am hugely excited at the prospect of returning there, as well as establishing my own festival in my beloved homeland. I hope the festival will bring attention to Andalucía, a beautiful and evocative region of Spain that has played such an important part in operatic storytelling.»

Barrett Wissman, from IMG Artists, said, «I am delighted to partner with Maestro Plácido Domingo in this new and exciting cultural initiative. The impact that he has made on the global cultural landscape is nothing short of phenomenal as a singer, conductor and administrator. My partner Alex Shustorovich and I are deeply honoured to be establishing a festival under Maestro Domingo’s patronage. The support and enthusiasm with which the festival has been greeted within Andalucía reflects the passion the people have for Maestro Domingo and his artistry. We are also very grateful for the support that our presenting partners, the Maestranza Theatre, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, and the Real Alcázar have given us, as well as the support of the cities of Seville and Malaga.»