QUICK TAKES - April 23, 2009

Britain’s Royal Opera House has recruited tenor Placido Domingo to help ride out the recession next season with a historic double in which he sings tenor in Handel’s “Tamerlano” and baritone in Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.”

The Spanish singer, who is general director of L.A. Opera, will notch his 26th role with the opera house when he appears in “Tamerlano” in March 2010, and in “Simon Boccanegra” three months later.

With a reputation for expensive ticket prices and high production costs, the Royal Opera House is braced for a tough season in 2009 and 2010. Chief Executive Tony Hall said he hoped they would break even by the end of the current season. He was cautious about the future, saying ticket prices would not be raised at the start of next season.