Domingo receives honorary knighthood

Opera singer Placido Domingo has received an honorary knighthood at the British embassy in Washington for his contributions to music and his charity work around the world.

The Spanish tenor, who has sung more operatic roles than any tenor in history, told a gathering of dignitaries he was “very happy, very honoured and very proud” to receive the honour at a ceremony last night.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, in Washington to meet with US Secretary of State Colin Powell today, conferred the honour after the British ambassador to the US, Christopher Meyer, lauded Domingo’s unique talents.

“Placido’s own motto is, ‘If I rest I rust’. I, for one, have yet to see any signs of metal fatigue,” Mr Meyer said.

Domingo has sung 119 different operatic roles, ranging from Mozart and Verdi to Berlioz and Puccini. He is currently performing in the title role of Giordano’s ”Andrea Chenier” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Since 1996, he has served as artistic director of the Washington Opera.

Domingo, 61, said performing at London’s Royal Opera House off and on for the past 30 years “has been among my greatest experiences”.