The great tenor, the little brother of the other two operatic giants Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, is back in Taipei to give a single concert tomorrow at the National Concert Hall.
If you haven't already got tickets, then you probably won't be going, as at the time of going to press, only tickets for NT$4,800 and NT$6,000 were still available.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MNA
Jose Carreras is no stranger to the National Concert Hall and it is a credit to his singing and his general audience appeal that he is still able to fill auditoriums even with the unconscionable prices being charged for tickets.
Carreras, whose career is now back on track after being diagnosed with acute leukemia in 1987, has seen his star rise further from being the least well known of the "three tenors" to being a musician who has not only overcome personal difficulties, but who, through the Jose Carreras International Leukemia Foundation, is now helping thousands around the world.
His background as the poor boy made good doubtless contributes to this popularity, but above all, it is his artistry that has brought him international recognition.
Carreras now restricts his operatic performances but manages to show off his incredible versatility, singing music from many other parts of the world, having sung in Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
He will doubtless bring the Taipei audience to its feet with his linguistic prowess -- but in addition to these crowd-pleasing gimmicks, Carreras has spoken seriously of his efforts to bring music to more people and show respect for other cultures through such performances.
Carreras will be joined by David Gimenz, a fellow Spaniard, who will be conducting Taiwan's Festival Symphony Orchestra. It is all set for a scintillating evening of music and a mixing of the classics with a little operatic folk music.
The concert will take place at the National Concert Hall at 7:45pm tomorrow. Tickets are available through ERA ticketing or from the venue.
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