Few evenings promise romance quite like the return of Cecilia Bartoli and Plácido Domingo to the stage of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, in a recital that feels tailor-made for Valentine’s season…
Their story is one of shared history, deep friendship and a musical bond forged over decades, first in New York and later through landmark collaborations such as Mozart’s Idomeneo.
Although their repertoires span centuries, Bartoli and Domingo are united by a love of Mediterranean music, from Mozart and Rossini to Vivaldi, and by a warmth and charisma that transcends operatic formality. While Puccini is more closely associated with Domingo, it is no coincidence that Tosca, set in Bartoli’s native Rome, marks a symbolic link between their artistic worlds.
Their most recent appearance together in Monaco, in 2023 at the Salle Garnier, left an indelible impression, celebrating Bartoli’s arrival as director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in a jubilant operatic tableau. This time, however, the mood is more intimate. In a chamber-style programme of songs inspired by their Latin heritage, they reveal another side of their artistry, personal, expressive and deeply human.
Subtly accompanying them is French pianist David Fray, whose sensitivity and shared love of Italian and Spanish music completes the trio. Together, they offer an evening of elegance, nostalgia and passion; an ideal Valentine’s escape where music speaks the language of love.
Image: OMC