Placido Domingo, to Take the World behind the Opera Curtain

The Spanish born and Mexican raised Placido Domingo will write a book meant to reveal to the entire world what opera is really about, his publicist confirmed yesterday. 'The Joy of Opera' will be published in 2009, but the publicist refused to reveal any information concerning the current state of the book.

W.W. Norton has already bought the exclusive international rights for the book and a spokesperson for the publishing house said in a statement that they hope it will prove to be a best-seller and a unique book among its kind.

'Opera for so many people remains a mystery, a curious and strange art form when it really should be much more part of our everyday lives', Placido said via his publicist. Being a 'behind the curtain look at opera', it is believed that 'The Joy' will also deal with Placido's career, his experience within the Three Tenors and his mission as the director of the Los Angeles Opera and of the Washington National Opera.

At 65 years of age, Domingo has been rewarded for his contribution to music, having received various honorary titles during his career, among which: Commander of France's Legion of Honor (2002), Honorary Knighthood of the British Empire, American Medal of Freedom, honorary doctorate from England's Oxford University and a lifetime achievement award at the Classical BRIT Awards ceremony in 2006.