CD: Placido Domingo with Miguel Roa conducting the Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid: Pasion Espanola

I'm on something of a Pedro Almodovar movie kick these days -- I have a lot of ground to make up between Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Live Flesh -- and if you have seen any of his films, you probably remember how popular songs insinuate themselves into those trademark Almodovar situations.

What I didn't realize was that Almodovar soundtracks have included a particular genre of Spanish popular song, the copla, which gives me a nice segue to -- wait for it -- this week's blog subject, another Spanish-born artist, Placido Domingo.

Yes, we all know what an overachiever Domingo is, and how much of a workaholic, and how far and wide he's cast his net in terms of material. Just look at his discography! Just count those operatic roles! He's a heldentenor. He's a dramatic tenor. He's done everything but sing the Monty Python lumberjack song at those Three Tenors concerts. He's even come full circle as a baritone.

All this and the guy serves as a conductor and holds administrative positions and, for all I know, does windows.

Excuse me for a moment; I have to go reevaluate my life and priorities.

Okay, I'm back, and so is Domingo. He's recorded a wide variety of albums, popular song included, but he's not done yet, artistically speaking. And now, having reminded us all how zarzuela fits into his life and legacy, he's also reaffirmed his attachment to coplas and pasodobles on his new album, Passion Espanola, perhaps introducing a new generation to the material in the process.

Does the mention of an album of popular song make you nervous? Transform any doubt into a frisson of pleasure, of anticipation, for Domingo wouldn't take on such a project halfway. There's a wholehearted commitment, a sense of abandon to his performance, and if the orchestral backing adds to the drama, it also provides a sensual touch.

Most of us have probably heard of the pasodoble, but I must confess that the term copla was entirely new to me. From what I understand, the copla is a variety of Spanish ballad with an identifiable composer and themes straight from the hearts of the people: love, sex, jealousy, sorrow. Check out the Deutsche Grammophon lyrics and liner notes for a better understanding of the genre.

The material is meant to be approached with passionate intensity, and to my thinking, an air of experience helps. For those reasons, Domingo seems an inspired choice for this particular project, and I so like the darker hues of his mature voice.

Besides, since a number of you have been out there buying DVDs of No Country for Old Men -- starring, coincidentally, another famous Spaniard, Academy Award winner Javier Bardem, in a terrifying performance -- now is the time for a life-affirming experience. Domingo's vocal fire, with that uncompromising passion and power, is a good place to begin.