'And now, to perform with him is a big emotion, and I'm very proud.'īut Domingo wasn't the first tenor voice Bocelli fell in love with. 'From that time, I considered the singer a giant,' Bocelli says. Bocelli, 17 years Domingo's junior, says he listened to Domingo's records as a kid. Bocelli has sold more than 60 million albums and draws a wider swath of fans. He has sung more than 125 different roles onstage.

The two superstars sat together and talked about a wide range of topics with NPR's Robert Siegel, including how to keep opera relevant in the 21st century.ĭomingo has the respect of the classical and opera worlds.

The two men are beloved by different audiences. Placido Domingo (on the conductor's podium) and Andrea Bocelli (as a soloist) will perform Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle for two nights in Washington. Two of the world's most famous tenors are performing together for the first time. And they're not for the Obama-Biden inauguration. They're being scalped for up to hundreds of dollars apiece.

They're the hottest tickets in Washington, D.C., this week. Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli in the NPR studios.

Opera singer bocelli