Noted tenor pens for kids’ literacy

With a flick of his wrist, famed opera singer Placido Domingo took a stand in name of education.

The powerful tenor appeared at a special celebration of International Literacy Day at South Coast Plaza Saturday.

Domingo, the inaugural performer for the Henry and Renee Segerstrom Concert Hall, partnered appropriately with Montblanc, a German company that has manufactured high-end pens for nearly a century.

Montblanc designed a custom Meisterstuck 149 fountain pen engraved with Domingo’s signature, which will remain on display in the retailer’s South Coast Plaza store.

For each Meisterstuck 149 pen sold through December, Montblanc will donate $149 to education programs run by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Domingo personally signed thank-you letters with his honorary pen for anyone who buys one of the writing pieces.

Domingo, one of the famous Three Tenors and general director of the Los Angeles Opera, gladly lent his name and signature to a program directed at improving education systems worldwide.

“The most important thing for children, except nutrition, is education,” Domingo said.

The Spanish maestro has founded education programs on both sides of the continent. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist program in Washington and the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist program in Los Angeles both aim to give young aspiring singers and musicians a forum in which they may develop their craft.

“Every human being has a right to choose what they want to do with their lives, and if they don’t have the opportunity, it’s a frustration,” Domingo said.

Montblanc marketing manager Natalie Engravito said literacy is a priority for the company. The pen manufacturer has organized similar events at their boutiques worldwide with stars such as Robin Leach in Las Vegas and photographer John De Mello in Hawaii.

“As a company that’s rooted in writing, we’re very excited,” Engravito said.

Domingo fans came to meet their operatic hero and get an autograph from one very nice pen.

Phyllis Wolfe of Long Beach said she has followed Domingo’s siren song worldwide. She has gone as far as Vienna, Austria to see him. She has also seen him in New York and London.

She said the traveling itself is well worth it, and Domingo’s performances are the icing on the cake.

“It’s an indulgence,” Wolfe said. “But on the other hand, it’s worthwhile.”

Shirley Saltman said it’s not uncommon for fans to globetrot to see him.

“He’s got a lot of groupies,” Saltman said.

Domingo recently lost close friend and fellow member of the Three Tenors, Luciano Pavarotti.

“It’s very hard to lose a friend,” Domingo said.

Pavarotti’s funeral was Saturday in Modena, Italy. Domingo was able to make the South Coast Plaza signing because the Los Angeles Opera opened its season with Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Fidelio” Saturday.

While Domingo was disappointed to miss his singing companion’s funeral, he has his own tribute planned.

Domingo will conduct the opera in a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem” in honor of the late Pavarotti today.

“My presence will be there for directing ‘Requiem,’” Domingo said.

The performance will also memorialize Edgar Baitzel, the Opera’s late chief operating officer. The piece is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, in Los Angeles.

Despite the opera world’s loss of Pavarotti, Domingo is confident in the young generation of opera singers. He said 60% of the world’s good young opera singers are from the United States, and he hopes his educational programs continue the trend.

“The future is very bright,” Domingo said.