Josep Carreras: "Il Video della Settimana": Plácido Domingo's birthday celebration

Josep Carreras, in his own words

There is something in life, in my life, that was able to overcome this extraordinary passion I have for singing, and especially lyrical singing. Whenever the Foundation succeed in finding a compatible donor for patients awaiting a transplant, or every time we make progress in scientific research thanks to one of our scholarships, or when leukaemia patients are treated in transplant units or clinics that we have helped to finance, I feel enormously happy. Thanks to my profession, I am privileged to help or, at least, try to help people in need. In 1987, I became ill with leukaemia. During my illness I was lucky enough to have a family who supported me throughout, to have an extraordinary medical team, in addition to the spontaneous support and sympathy of the general public. This allowed me to maintain my morale and it gave me the necessary energy and determination to fight leukaemia. On July 14th 1988, with the support of my family, eminent scientists and business people, I had the opportunity to create the International Foundation for the Fight Against Leukaemia. Our Foundation focuses on four main areas: supporting scientific research, providing infrastructures for healthcare centres and hospitals, and searching for bone marrow and stem cell donors. All this in addition to offering social services for leukaemia patients and their families. The main mission of the Foundation is to support scientific research. The Josep Carreras Foundation for the Fight Against Leukaemia was born to help make Leukaemia a completely curable disease for everyone and in all cases. Our work will not stop until our goal becomes a reality.

Thank you Maria and Pippa for the English translation.

domenica 22 gennaio 2012

"Il Video della Settimana": Plácido Domingo's birthday celebration

Benvenuti per un'altra domenica con un nuovo Video della Settimana.

Il video di oggi nasce per la giornata di ieri, in cui ricorreva il compleanno del Maestro Plácido Domingo, un uomo che nonostante i 71 anni compiuti è professionalmente inarrestabile.

*Key facts: for a short summary, please go at the end of the post

È stato molto difficile, realmente molto difficile. Mi sarebbe piaciuto molto "cavarmela" con un duetto tra Plácido e Josep, ma la scarsa disponibilità online e il rischio di scadere nel banale mi hanno portata a evitare questa possibilità: troppo tardi, direi, per portare qui un'altro brano di Natale, e mi turba il rischio di rendere inflazionato in questo blog, seppur sempre commovente, il duetto di Petra in tributo a Luciano Pavarotti. Troppo generico un qualsiasi momento dei Tre Tenori... poi qui stiamo parlando di uno solo, anzi due.

Tutto questi impedimenti hanno portato alla nascita di un'idea: questo video rappresenta un montaggio di alcuni momenti storicamente memorabili, condivisi da Plácido Domingo e Josep Carreras, due grandissimi artisti che hanno instaurato un magnifico rapporto, intrecciando la pubblica professione e l'intimità dell'amicizia. È un montaggio molto improvvisato, ma spero che sia comunque di vostro gradimento.

Con questo, ne approfitto per rinnovare la dimostrazione della mia stima per Plácido Domingo, e per rivolgergli un carissimo augurio di compleanno.

MUCHAS FELICIDADES, MAESTRO DOMINGO!!

Spero che abbiate gradito, e vi rimando a domenica prossima per un nuovo video. Buona settimana a tutti!!

Key facts:
● This new video is supposed to celebrate the Maestro Plácido Domingo who celebrated his birthday yesterday, January 21. Even though he's turned 71, he has a never ending professional activity.
● It's been a very difficult choice: I'd have liked to choose a simple duet, but it'd be too late to bring her another Christmas song, and the Petra duet "Non ti scordar di me", alone, would be too obvious... too easy. So, I decided to make a short video collecting some of the best moments Plácido and Josep have shared in life: they are two great artists who have established a strong relationship, both professionally and in private life. This video I made is actually an improvisation, but I hope you like it. Enjoy!!
● With that, I'd like to show again my great admiration to Plácido Domingo, and to wish him all the best for his birthday.
Hope you enjoy it, see you next Sunday for a further Video of the Week!!