Plácido Domingo was born in Madrid, Spain, and moved to Mexico at age 8 with his family, who ran a zarzuela company. In Mexico City he studied music at the National Conservatory. He provided backup vocals for Los Black Jeans in 1958, a rock-and-roll band lead by César Costa. He learned piano and conducting, but made his stage debut in 1959 (May 12) at the Teatro Degollado in Guadalajara as Pascual in Marina. It was followed by Borsa in Rigoletto, Padre Confessor (Le dialogue des Carmelites) and others. In 1962 he joined the Israeli National Opera in Tel Aviv, where he spent two and a half years, singing 280 performances.
On September 19, 1985, the biggest earthquake in Mexico's history devastated the whole Mexican capital. Domingo's aunt, uncle, his nephew and his nephew’s young son were killed in the collapse of the Nuevo León apartment block in the Tlatelolco housing complex. Domingo himself labored to rescue survivors. During the next year, he did benefit concerts for the victims and released an album of one of the events.
In 1966, he sang the title role in the US premiere of Ginastera's Don Rodrigo at the New York City Opera, with much acclaim. He first performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on September 28, 1968, in Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur, singing with Renata Tebaldi. (Since then, he has opened the season there 21 times, surpassing the previous record of Enrico Caruso by four.) He made his debut at the Vienna State Opera in 1967, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 1968, at both La Scala and San Francisco Opera in 1969, and at Covent Garden in 1971, and has now sung at practically every other important opera house and festival worldwide.
Perhaps the most versatile of all living tenors, Domingo has sung 92 roles onstage to date (and as many as 123 roles when also counting recorded roles), ranging from Mozart to Ginastera. His main repertoire however is Italian (Otello, Il Trovatore, Don Carlo), French (Faust, Werther, Don José in Carmen, Samson in Samson et Dalila), and German (Lohengrin, Parsifal, and Siegmund in Die Walküre). He continues to add more operas to his repertoire, such as recently Franco Alfano's Cyrano de Bergerac at the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House in London.
With José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, he participated in The Three Tenors concert at the opening of the 1990 World Cup in Rome. The event was originally conceived to raise money for the José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation and was later repeated a number of times, including at the three subsequent World Cup finals (1994 in Los Angeles, 1998 in Paris, and 2002 in Yokohama). Alone, Domingo again made an appearance at the final of the 2006 World Cup in Berlin.
In what has been called his 'final career move', Placido Domingo announced on January 25, 2007 that in 2009 he would switch ranges to baritone by taking on one of Verdi's most demanding baritone roles, as the Doge of Genoa, Simon Boccanegra, in the opera of the same name.
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Plácido Domingo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree-tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the tree-tops glisten
And children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all you Christmases be bright
The song "White Christmas" by Placido Domingo (Holiday) is an ode to the nostalgia and traditions of Christmas, particularly those of the past. The lyrics describe a longing for a Christmas that is snowy, with sparkling tree-tops and the sound of sleigh bells in the air. The singer reminisces about Christmases "used to know," suggesting that the holiday has lost some of its magic in contemporary times. Nevertheless, he wishes for his loved ones to have a "merry and bright" holiday season--imbuing the song with a sense of hope and warmth.
What makes the song particularly poignant is the fact that it was released in 1989, during a time of great social and political change in the world. The Cold War had just ended, and many people were grappling with the aftermath of the Reagan era. "White Christmas," then, is not just an ode to the past but a plea for a return to simpler times--a call to find comfort in tradition and family amidst an uncertain world. Indeed, it has become one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time, a constant reminder of the enduring power of togetherness and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
I yearn for this special day to be covered in snow, giving it a serene and calming feel
Just like the ones I used to know
Reminiscing about the past and how Christmas was celebrated
Where the tree-tops glisten
The branches of trees are shiny and gleaming in the winter sun
And children listen
The sound of sleigh bells and laughter fills the air, making it a joyous environment for children
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
The sound of the bells jingling adds to the peaceful atmosphere
With every Christmas card I write
Sending cards with warm wishes to loved ones is a heartfelt tradition
May your days be merry and bright
I pray that each day during the holiday season is filled with happiness and joy
And may all your Christmases be white
Hoping that every future Christmas is covered in snow, just like this year
Just like the ones I used to know
Still thinking back to the good old days of Christmas and how things were celebrated
Where the tree-tops glisten
The snow creates a picturesque view of trees in winter time
And children listen
The excitement of the holiday is palpable, especially among the youngest members of the family
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
The sound of sleigh bells ringing in the snow is a cherished part of the holiday experience
With every Christmas card I write
I take the time to express my holiday wishes for loved ones through thoughtful notes
May your days be merry and bright
Wishing all those I love to experience the warmth and happiness of the season
And may all you Christmases be bright
May every Christmas in the future be as joyous and filled with light as this one
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Buck Ram, Kim Gannon, Walter Kent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind