On 19 September 1985 the biggest earthquake in Mexico 's history devastated part of the Mexican capital . Domingo 's aunt , uncle , nephew and his nephew 's young son were killed in the collapse of the Nuevo León apartment block in the Tlatelolco housing complex . Cancelling several performances , Domingo himself labored to rescue survivors . During the next year , he performed benefit concerts for the victims and released an album of one of the events . Also in 1986 he appeared in a special gala concert for Queen Elizabeth II and in the world premiere of '' Goya '' , an opera that Gian Carlo Menotti composed specifically for him . Domingo had encouraged Menotti to make the opera about the Spanish painter Francisco Goya , whose life fascinated the singer
biggest earthquake in Mexico 's history
1985 Mexico City earthquake
Plácido Domingo