“For One Heartbeat, I Thought He Was Back.” On a Wind-Lashed Night in Florence, Santa Croce Square Held Its Breath. Plácido Domingo Raised His Baton To Conduct IL Volo, Steady and Revered—Until Nessun Dorma Cracked Him Open. As Piero Barone Stepped Forward, Voice Blazing Into the Aria’s Summit, Domingo’s Hand Began To Tremble. The Baton Dipped. Time Thinned.
The wind swept across Santa Croce Square like a whisper from history. It was late evening in Florence, and thousands of people filled the ancient plaza, shoulder to shoulder, waiting for…