Ha, I like how he's trying it out in a can't-fail setting: supporting his young artist, with a libretto in front of him (lets face it, it's not the score he usually can't remember), among people so young he's bound to sound fatherly no matter the timbre, and among the Chinese which will at worst be politely indifferent.
Not too crazy about him doing Rigoletto, but better than Iago.

Ahem, where did you get the idea he can't remember the score? He usually remembers other singers' roles and can play a lot of the orchestral music on a piano. You must have him mixed up with someone else. Opera wasn't always as limited in voice ranges and timbres, as it is today. When operas were first written in the "old days", the composer often rewrote parts for different or favorite singers. Doing something lyrical nowadays is a lot better than introducing "modern" unmelodious so-called "operas" which are quickly forgotten -- and justifiably so.

Reignwood Theatre is tiny and private-it will be an invited audience. That's how they avoid having to file for a permit from the Ministry of Culture, and also how to control who they want in the audience.

Chillax, Robyn. Chillax and reread before you get too ahead of yourself.

Holy $#!t. . .

Placido Domingo is well known in the industry for showing up barely prepared for many engagements. His extraordinary musicianship allows him to get away with it, but the prompter is his best friend. But it is a source of amazement to professionals I know that someone SO talented and SO musical has never taken the time, for instance, to straighten out his German diction.
I've read a story of someone who observed rehearsals for "The First Emperor" (written for Domingo)at the Met and was surprised opening night that the staging didn't REALLY call for the Emperor to be staring at a book in his hand all night. LOL! It is a tribute to his talent and guts that he can get away with it, but not his most endearing quality.
As for Rigoletto - the shame is not that he is singing the role; the shame (IMHO) is that an old tenor is the best Verdi baritone in the world today. Given a choice between Hvorotsovsky as Simon Boccanagera (at the MET this coming season) and Domingo, I personally would prefer Domingo. At least he can sing all the notes without cracking, going horribly out of tune, or wobbling (DH did all three when I heard him as Renato (Ballo) at the Met a couple of seasons ago. (Though in the right roles - Onegin, Yeletsky, Valentine - DH is a formidable artist).
Tim, do you select the "Captcha" words? I see mine are "stokowski relief"! LOL

Heck, I don't eve know from 'captcha' words. That's Greek to me.TIM

LOL! The Captcha words are the words we mere mortals must type to verify we are, in fact, mortals before we can post to your blog.

Ah, yes, mortals. I've heard tell of them. TIM