It will be a grand concert: three stars, a choir, and the Festival Orchestra conducted by Valentin Urupin, wonderful melodies by Verdi and Puccini, Leoncavallo and Giordano, Cilea and Dvořák, Sorozabal and Lehár. And it will be the realization of a long-held dream: Domingo told Latvian opera star Kristine Opolais ten years ago that he would like to sing a duet with her in Latvia. "Before each performance, I am overwhelmed by a wave of adrenaline and immense responsibility: I know I must give my all to the audience, to present myself in the best light. It is an indescribable feeling, very strong. You never get used to it," he assures. And he is preparing to meet an audience that has never heard him live before. Throughout his fantastic career, the maestro has performed over 150 diverse roles on the opera stage, excelling and being organic in a wide range of music. Now he will offer the audience a rich program: arias from "Andrea Chénier" and "Il Trovatore," "The Tavern Keeper" and "The Land of Smiles," Spanish and Italian songs, as well as ensembles with the evening's hostess — soprano Kristine Opolais — and American tenor Michael Fabiano (the detailed program of the gala concert is available on the ticket operator's website). And that's not all: the evening's audience can expect several pleasant surprises that the organizers prefer to keep secret for now. The great maestro has had the opportunity to collaborate with almost all Latvian celebrities connected with opera music, but this has always happened outside our country. For example, at the renowned La Scala theater, where Alvis Hermanis staged Verdi's opera "I Due Foscari" specifically for Domingo in 2016, and in 2020 Domingo opened the season together with Kristine Opolais. "I am happy to perform again with Kristine," says the Spaniard, reminding that they recently had a successful concert in Hanoi. Kristine Opolais has a solid reputation as one of the leading singers in the world. Besides La Scala, she has shone on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Berlin State Opera, Royal Opera in London, Bavarian State Opera, Zurich Opera House, and many others. "Opolais is an artist who is not afraid of risk; she always goes where art is born," critics note. It is this courage that turns each of her appearances on stage into an event — not only vocally but also artistically. The third participant in the gala concert in Jūrmala will be Michael Fabiano — one of the most sought-after tenors of our time. He has received applause at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, La Scala, Paris National Opera, Royal Opera in Madrid, and Deutsche Oper in Berlin. This season, Fabiano is performing the role of José in New York, Madrid, and Erl, Calaf in New York, Otello in Buenos Aires and Toulouse, Andrea Chénier in Bilbao, Grimaldo in Barcelona, and Romeo in Madrid. His appearance in Jūrmala is a true gift for music lovers: it is not often that one gets to hear good tenors today. And yet, the main center of attraction for this musical celebration will be Plácido Domingo — a singer who conquered all heights in his youth and has remained on the operatic Olympus for over half a century. A phenomenal artist, conductor, director, founder of the international competition Operalia, holder of nine Grammy Awards, five Latin Grammys, and two Emmys, he is rightly considered one of the most influential figures in the modern opera world.