Leading tenor takes a back seat to local stars at watch shop opening
It's not often that one of the world's top tenors opens a watch shop. But there was Placido Domingo last Thursday afternoon, after holding a press conference with his touring guest vocalist Katherine Jenkins, at Emperor Watch & Jewellery's new Causeway Bay Rolex shop, dotting the eyes of the lion dancing at the ceremony.
Arguably the opera world's top dog after Luciano Pavarotti's death, the Spaniard was here for a concert on Saturday at the AsiaWorld Arena. Arriving a couple of days early meant the star could rest his vocal chords and indulge in an extra promotional appearance.
But it might have been a slight letdown for Domingo to see more teen fans screaming for Emperor Entertainment Group's young idols and more media interest for young pianist Yundi Li (above with Domingo) than him - the man who opened 21 seasons at the New York Met.
'I was last here 18 years ago,' Domingo said. 'Look at all these buildings. They are so tall and different than 18 years ago ... I also see a lot of young people on the streets everywhere now.'
As for Li, he even gave the tenor a backhanded insult when he talked excitedly about meeting director Wong Kar-wai for the first time at last Monday's Style Awards. So what's Placido Domingo - chopped liver?
