 In 1980, Plowright sang Manon Lescaut at Torre del Lago, Aida and Ariadne in Frankfurt, Ariadne in Berne and Ortlinde at the Royal Opera House.Her American operatic début was in San Diego as Medora in the United States premiere of Verdi's "Il corsaro".Her debut at La Scala came in 1983 when she sang Suor Angelica.