Plácido Domingo is the true ambassador of opera. He is the general director of LA Opera and Washington National Opera, a Grammy winner, an esteemed conductor and one of the most accomplished vocalists in history. To commemorate LA Opera’s 25th anniversary, the 69-year-old Domingo will open the 2010–2011 season with the world premiere of Il Postino, his 132nd role—the most ever by a celebrated tenor.

LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL: You’ve had an extensive and illustrious career spanning more than 50 years. What do you attribute this longevity to?
PLÁCIDO DOMINGO: My motto has always been, “If I rest, I rust.” I have been extremely fortunate in that I have made a career doing something I truly love. I certainly never expected to still be singing at this stage in my life, but I hope to be able to keep going for as long as I still have a voice worth hearing.

LAC: You’ve performed all over the world. What is unique about performing with LA Opera?
PD: Performing with LA Opera gives me the feeling of being at home. I performed in its first production [in 1986], and I have been a part of this company ever since. After working for so many years with the people both behind and in front of the curtain, I really feel comfortable here. This, of course, gives me even more of a challenge to do my absolute best.

LAC: Why did you choose Il Postino to open LA Opera’s 25th anniversary season?
PD: I had long wanted to work with composer Daniel Catán, and when he mentioned he was planning to make an opera based on Il Postino, I knew Pablo Neruda would be a perfect role for me. To create a new role is always exciting, and to do it in my native language of Spanish is going to make this an enormously moving experience for me—I am really looking forward to it. It’s going to be an incredible opera, and our audiences are going to love it.

LAC: What does retirement look like to you?
PD: What is retirement?

Il Postino runs from September 23–October 16 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. 135 N. Grand Ave., LA; musiccenter.org

TOP: Domingo performing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center