Plácido Domingo: My Greatest Roles

Filmmaker Chris Hunt's biographical portrait of Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo (who has been called the greatest singer of the century) is more celebratory than critical, offering the highest praise not only of the singer's vocalism and energy as an artist but also of his generosity as a colleague, without a whiff of dissent or qualification. But there's much to celebrate, including Domingo's extraordinary career as a soloist in the world's most famous opera houses, his participation in the famed Three Tenors ensemble with Luciano Pavarotti and José Carreras, and his recent roles as a conductor and artistic director of two major American opera companies. Accompanied by archival footage and stills, the centerpiece of the film is an interview with Domingo that provides a strong autobiographical element, complemented by comments from admiring collaborators including Pavarotti, Carreras, and soprano Kiri Te Kanawa; conductor Zubin Mehta (with whom he made a live broadcast of Tosca); and director John Schlesinger (who worked with him on a film of The Tales of Hoffmann). Interspersed are excerpts from those two operas, as well as eight others. Offering compelling testament to Domingo's range and commitment, backed by excellent (if regrettably brief) performance excerpts, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)