Veteran tenor Placido Domingo has signed on to remain general director of the Los Angeles Opera for another five years.

The Spanish opera star and conductor, who has struggled with numerous health issues in recent years, is refusing to let his advancing age and personal problems hinder his career, and has agreed to extend his contract with the Los Angeles Opera until the end of the 2018-2019 season.

The 73 year old, who is currently preparing to star in the company's production of La Traviata later this month (Sep14), tells the Los Angeles Times, "I still feel strong to do the job.

"I don't know if I will be singing... who knows how long I will be singing. (But) I think the public likes it and the board likes it. So we will see."

Domingo first started working with the city's musical group in 1984, when he was appointed artistic consultant. He went on to serve as artistic director from 2001 to 2003, when he was promoted to general director.

He was recently struck down with bladder and respiratory tract infections, prompting him to cancel his final three performances at the Salzburg Festival in Austria last month (Aug14), while he also underwent surgery in 2010 to remove a cancerous polyp from his colon and was hospitalised in 2013 for a pulmonary embolism.