The real sorrow for many of us is not having been able to make our careers in this Teatro Real

Placido Domingo

Now the 60-year-old is due to make an unscheduled solo appearance to celebrate the building's 150th anniversary.

But a summer cold he blames on air conditioning may still prevent the tenor himself from singing.

Domingo said he will direct a nearly all-Spanish cast of singers for the gala event on Wednesday night.

The opera house closed down in 1925 after it was condemned, driving many singers abroad to further their careers.

After many false starts it reopened in 1966 but was still unable to stage full operas until 1997.

The Three Tenors have enjoyed worldwide success

Speaking ahead of his performance, Domingo said: "The real sorrow for many of us is not having been able to make our careers in this Teatro Real.

Mexico

"That's why I consider myself fortunate for still being able to sing in it."

He performed at the theatre last year in a rendition of Wagner's Parsifal.

Domingo, known throughout the world as one of the Three Tenors alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras, studied singing in Mexico City and made his 1968 debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera.

He took up a position of artistic director of the Washington and Los Angeles operas in anticipation of retiring from singing live.

However, he says he has confidence in his voice, despite a cold, and will continue until he has had enough.

King and Queen

He said: "I've always said that I won't sing a day more than I ought to, but also not a day less."

Invited guests are expected to included King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

The celebration will feature works performed at the theatre since it first opened as an opera house in 1850.

Soprano Ana Maria Sanchez will sing an aria from Verdi's The Force of Destiny, which debuted at the theatre in 1863.

The impressive venue now has a rotating stage and can house an audience of 1,630.