By Begoña Marin

Miami, Jan 26 (EFE).- Spanish tenor Placido Domingo said that at 75, he feels he still has the strength to keep bringing the lyric opera genre to the world’s stages.

“In the last six years I’ve gone through some difficult health problems, but fortunately everything came out fine and I still feel strong enough to stay onstage,” Domingo, who is giving a concert this Thursday in Miami, told EFE.

The tenor, who overcame colon cancer in 2010 and a pulmonary embolism in 2013, said that “as the years go by, cars that have traveled a long road,” as he has, are bound to need “a few repairs.”

These have been “complicated years,” he said with regard to having a vesicle operation three months ago, and to the death of his “adored” sister Maria Jose last June.

“Losing my loved ones is what I fear most, but I have to keep going because there are many heirs, children and grandchildren, and I want to make their lives happy,” said Domingo, who turned 75 on Jan. 21.

Nonetheless, the tenor said he feels well and “thrilled” to continue a career during which he has played 145 operatic roles, has given more than 3,600 performances around the world, has recorded over 100 albums and has won nine Grammy Awards.

“I always had a great longing to sing, but I never thought I could do it for so many years in so many theaters around the world. The most fabulous thing about my career is that every three or four days I have to show up and make the music that makes people forget their troubles,” he said.

Domingo, who was one of the “three tenors,” together with the Italian Luciano Pavarotti and fellow Spaniard Jose Carreras, didn’t hesitate to admit that their act created “a transcendental moment” that brought opera to a vast general public.

He said that one of the pillars of his life is his wife, Mexican soprano Marta Ornelas, whom he wed in 1962.

Four years have gone by since the Spanish tenor last performed in Miami, and for his current encore he has chosen a selection from his wide repertoire featuring songs of every kind, from Broadway musical hits to old favorites like “Granada” and “Besame Mucho.”

He will also share the stage with Colombian singer and Miami resident Juanes, who will harmonize a duo with him. EFE