After having heard this, I don't think I want to hear anyone else even attempt this aria. I'm sure you'll agree--this is the best. From Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte
I knew Leopold quite well. And not how one would think one would know such a legend. You see in his later years Leopold was experiencing Kidney Failure, and he received almost daily Kidney Dialysis treatment at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC Canada. I was a Taxi Driver that hung out at the Hospital every day because I usually got a lot of business from there. The first time I met Leopold I had no idea who he was, but on our very first trip he told me he was a retired opera singer. Not knowing anything about opera, I didn't make the connection between his name and opera, and to be honest he didn't talk much about Opera, other then telling me he used to sing in New York. He actually spent most of our trips to his house in 10 Mile Point talking to me about his love of Fine French Cuisine. He would passionately discuss how dining on French Cuisine was like making love to a woman. For about 6 months I picked Leopold up every day at the hospital in my taxi, and I would actually purposely go there at the same time every day hoping to get dispatched to him, as I rather enjoyed his company and was fascinated with his stories and conversations. He was a very kind, gentle mannered man, well spoken, intelligent, and I would say he rather enjoyed having me as his taxi driver. He was always so happy to see me, as I he knew I truly respected him, and enjoyed our rides together. He was 87 years old at the time when I knew him, and he was very independent. He never needed help getting in or out of the taxi, and he always gave me a $5 dollar tip every trip. One day he I didn't get the call for him, then that turned into a week, and then into two weeks. I realized that Leopold may have passed away, and that was why I had not seen him in so long. That was the last time I ever saw Leopold, and I would often think about him and our conversations. It was not until years later when I was thinking about him one day that I typed his name into Google......I was completely surprised to find out How famous he was, and what he had done in the world of Opera. All that time I knew him, and drove him home almost every day from the hospital, and through all our conversations...I had no idea that the man sitting next to me was a true LEGEND. He made a very positive impact on me, and I will never forget him.
I used to pick up Leopold every day from the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC Canada in my Taxi. He had to partake in Kidney Dialysis daily in is elderly years as he was approaching the end of his life. He was such a joy to drive, and he was always so happy during our drives. He would tell me wonderful stories about his life as an opera singer and his love of French Food and French cooking. He lived in a beautiful house in Cadboro Bay and he always gave me a $5 dollar tip once we arrived at his house. For some reason I was thinking about him this evening and typed his name into the WEB and this is now the very first time I have ever heard him sing. Wonderful! I am glad to have been able to have spent those months with him as his taxi driver and enjoy his company and conversation.
Assuming you don't know much about opera, Leopold wasn't just a moderately successful opera singer. He really was one of the best Mozartean tenors of the last century. You were driving around a real legend of a lyric tenor.
@@brendant19 Yeah, I never gave it much thought at the time because he actually didn't talk too much about his singing. He spoke mainly about his love of French food and his love of cooking. He was quite obsessed with talking about cooking and fine dining LOL. He would mention every now and then that he used to be an opera singer. He once told me that he had sung in some very famous opera houses but I never knew who he actually was until I searched him on You Tube and Google a couple of weeks ago. He once even told me that eating fine french food was like making love. I never forgot that.
Simoneau is a master. Look at his uniform velvet-color, perfect refined frasing, so natural, so beautifull, so , so ....so....I kan't find the words...I love him. THANK YOU forallyouknow for puting him on youtube.
To me the unique quality of this rendition is that his voice sounds like it has a firm foundation on which it can relax. Some of the others have this effect to varying degrees, but this tenor (whom i'm hearing for the first time) seems to have the pitch and placement down so firmly that his voice is completely freed to truly 'perform'. It is just really freakishly super to sense that consistent firmness throughout after listening to versions of this by everyone from Kaufmann to Wunderlich, from Kraus to Gedda, etc., some much better than the others, but this tops them all in its quality of free artistic flight unhindered by even the slightest touch of underlying instability or unsureness.
As a fellow tenor I can honestly say I have NEVER heard a better version; what a magnificent artist; How I wish I had heard him perform; Bravo Bravo Bravo!
@@jefolson6989 It's always the simple sounding pieces that are brutal. This is just long legato phrases and very little flash or accompaniment. There's nothing to hide behind.
The perfect Mozart tenor - Simoneau as beautiful and controlled as usual - no wonder Beecham insisted on him being his tenor in the 1950s Seraglio performance!
Wunderlich, although the definitive tenor for Mozart's operas in the German language, could not have exhibited the refinement and artistic phrasing Simoneau displays here. Of the many illustrious lyric tenors that hailed from French Canada, Simoneau was in my opinion the finest.
PERFECTION! There are several great versions of this aria on youtube, but when I listen to Simoneau, I get the strong feeling that this might very well be the "Un'aura amorosa" Mozart himself had in mind. Absolute mastery of voice and style, zero bad habits or faults. You can just sit back and enjoy this crème de la crème. (somehow, I always knew that French delicacy would be a perfect match for Mozartian operas, here's the proof ;-)
Yes - a perfect version. But other versions from more earth-bound voices can offer something different. But for pure abstract beauty of tone, musicality and personality this remains unbeaten and unbeatable.
Wow, how good he was!!!!. His voice is free flotting in his upper head and resounding through his mask,Bravooo!!!!. Hope I could have had listen more to his material before!!!!!
Wow listened again.. Just amazing.. The high notes are sung so matter of factly, never emphasized, just part of the whole phrase and placed so delicately, like he's just lightly touching them with absolute continuity of timbre and pitch. You actually hear the fullness of certain phrases the continuity of which is just lost in other's renditions. Few singers seem to truly achieve this: to not aim for the high notes, but simply sing through them as passing by. But what a huge difference it makes when they can do this! By deemphasizing the high notes and making them a perfect part of the continuous whole, they achieve in making them even more spine-chilling in their effect
I honestly can't decide which I like more Lehtipuu's wonderful interpretation, or this perfect, restrained, elegant lyricism, by the last great singer of the Old French School.
Excellent!!!, what else can someone say about this interpretation of Leopolod Simoneau?, he was a extraordinary talented tenor, that still on our days, marks a molde to follow by all lyrical artists. Thanks for sharing.Bravoo!!!!
@duchaspa Oh, not only getting older ! I'm an 18 year-old tenor and Simoneau is my favourite tenor. A role model for any leggiero tenor in terms of technique, and for anyone in terms of musicality. for sure one of the best in Mozart, alongside with Wunderlich (for anything in German... that's a name you guys are lucky to have in your patrimony!)
@ericbach1993 One of my favorite recordings of all time. I listened to Simoneau's rendition every day for a week, and wept every time! What a wonderful gift.
Un'aura amorosa Del nostro tesoro Un dolce ristoro Al cor porgerà; Al cor che, nudrito Da speme, da amore, Di un'esca migliore Bisogno non ha. A breath of love From our treasures Will afford our hearts Sweet sustenance. A heart nourished On the hope of love Has no need Of greater inducement. Lorenzo da Ponte: 10/03/1749 Vittorio Veneto, Italia - 17/08/1838 New York City, USA
Eine Arie, in der er alle seine Stärken voll zur Geltung bringen kann: ein honigsüßes und edles Timbre, perfekte Phrasierung und mirakulöses Messa di voce! Schöner kann man kaum singen!
It sounds a step higher than written (as do so many recordings on RUclips), which drives me NUTS!!! That said, his phrasing is exquisite and his technique truly bel canto. Superb.
Léopold Simoneau est décédé la même année où l’on fêtait partout dans le monde le 250 ième anniversaire de la naissance de Mozart....À croire que celui qu’il avait tant interprété au cours de sa vie,daignait le rappeler vers lui....Sublime interprète!Mais encore trop peu connu chez-lui.....Viviane Dubé (4 décembre 2017).
The epitome of Mozartian singing. I can think of only one other who might come close -- Fritz Wunderlich. This is an unforgettable interpretation of a tender aria.
It's not easy to follow Mozart's directions that music must "flow like oil"' and the many attempts at this most difficult and most beautiful aria of Mozart by even the big names from the operatic firmament have floundered, all ending up sounding like "damp squids"....except Simoneau, who here sings it so effortlessly, without a tinge of self-consciouness that can be the pitfall of many an artiste in the sublime music of this divine composer. sd goh (malaysia)
For his voice it may was easier to mix and make soft phrases in high register when this aria is transposed a half step higher. Anyway; This is incredible... Fantastic
transcendent! one is transported to another place listening to such sublime artistry and musicianship. that is really something, coming after listening to one of my absolute and forever favorites - Fritz Wunderlich.
@tamino20002000 Some lighter voiced tenors' voices are just placed higher, higher tessitura. They find this key actually easier to sing in than the original key. I myself find this 'transposed up' key easier to sing in. It's not to show off, just more comfortable. You'll often hear Don Ottavio's first aria 'dalla sua pace' transposed up as well.
Such a gorgeous and sweet tone!! I know of only one equal to this: listen to Daniel Behle's recent recent recording of this aria. They are both perfection in my mind, but Behle's pianissimo in the middle of the aria is unbelievably exquisite.
Der Odem der Liebe. Wie schön Simoneau es singt. Schade dass er auch schon tot ist,.Auf Alfredo Kraus nochmals zu kommen, er sang etwas nasal, aber seine technik war unvergleichlich gut. Kernige Tenöre wie Giacomini sind mir natürlich auch lieber, Giacomini kommt nicht überall an, Er ist halt ein dramatischer Tenor mit einem baritonalem Timbre, aber die dramatische Höhe einfach genial, Gruß Alfred
Does anyone know whether Fritz Wunderlich sang this? It would be interesting to hear his version if there is one. He also had a beautiful 'romantic' voice.
@SoulNotes1 ' course he did. best version of this as all of his are. i have it in german on a cd but i had a cd with him singing dalla sua pace, this, and il mio tesoro in italian and i cant find it.
he sings nice with high position flexible.notice when he does a G note for example piano smooth wow! notice when he does his A notes piano smooth wow!! what a lecture on how to sing!!
Does anyone know if this performance comes from the complete Cosi recording w/ Schwarzkopf, Nan Merriman, etc. cond. by von Karajan? Great musician -- like de los Angeles & others he could capture the essence that is beyond the notes.
Yes, but I wonder who was the recording producer? I doubt it could have beet Walter Legge as he would not have allowed the aspirate "H"'s to have slipped by even at the very beginning on the word "amaorosa", indeed each time the word is repeated. A exceedingly difficult aria with very few totally satisfactory recordings, maybe the best of all is the largely forgotten Aksel Schiotz while also remembering Patzak, Wunderlich and Kraus
This is absolutely first-rate...but for me, still second to Rainer Trost's version with John Eliot Gardiner (ruclips.net/video/CTAa2KwCF3U/видео.html). I love the lightness, ease, and naturalness of his version.
I knew Leopold quite well. And not how one would think one would know such a legend. You see in his later years Leopold was experiencing Kidney Failure, and he received almost daily Kidney Dialysis treatment at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC Canada. I was a Taxi Driver that hung out at the Hospital every day because I usually got a lot of business from there. The first time I met Leopold I had no idea who he was, but on our very first trip he told me he was a retired opera singer. Not knowing anything about opera, I didn't make the connection between his name and opera, and to be honest he didn't talk much about Opera, other then telling me he used to sing in New York. He actually spent most of our trips to his house in 10 Mile Point talking to me about his love of Fine French Cuisine. He would passionately discuss how dining on French Cuisine was like making love to a woman. For about 6 months I picked Leopold up every day at the hospital in my taxi, and I would actually purposely go there at the same time every day hoping to get dispatched to him, as I rather enjoyed his company and was fascinated with his stories and conversations. He was a very kind, gentle mannered man, well spoken, intelligent, and I would say he rather enjoyed having me as his taxi driver. He was always so happy to see me, as I he knew I truly respected him, and enjoyed our rides together. He was 87 years old at the time when I knew him, and he was very independent. He never needed help getting in or out of the taxi, and he always gave me a $5 dollar tip every trip. One day he I didn't get the call for him, then that turned into a week, and then into two weeks. I realized that Leopold may have passed away, and that was why I had not seen him in so long. That was the last time I ever saw Leopold, and I would often think about him and our conversations. It was not until years later when I was thinking about him one day that I typed his name into Google......I was completely surprised to find out How famous he was, and what he had done in the world of Opera. All that time I knew him, and drove him home almost every day from the hospital, and through all our conversations...I had no idea that the man sitting next to me was a true LEGEND. He made a very positive impact on me, and I will never forget him.
I used to pick up Leopold every day from the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC Canada in my Taxi. He had to partake in Kidney Dialysis daily in is elderly years as he was approaching the end of his life. He was such a joy to drive, and he was always so happy during our drives. He would tell me wonderful stories about his life as an opera singer and his love of French Food and French cooking. He lived in a beautiful house in Cadboro Bay and he always gave me a $5 dollar tip once we arrived at his house. For some reason I was thinking about him this evening and typed his name into the WEB and this is now the very first time I have ever heard him sing. Wonderful! I am glad to have been able to have spent those months with him as his taxi driver and enjoy his company and conversation.
Assuming you don't know much about opera, Leopold wasn't just a moderately successful opera singer. He really was one of the best Mozartean tenors of the last century. You were driving around a real legend of a lyric tenor.
@@brendant19 Yeah, I never gave it much thought at the time because he actually didn't talk too much about his singing. He spoke mainly about his love of French food and his love of cooking. He was quite obsessed with talking about cooking and fine dining LOL. He would mention every now and then that he used to be an opera singer. He once told me that he had sung in some very famous opera houses but I never knew who he actually was until I searched him on You Tube and Google a couple of weeks ago. He once even told me that eating fine french food was like making love. I never forgot that.
Simoneau is a master. Look at his uniform velvet-color, perfect refined frasing, so natural, so beautifull, so , so ....so....I kan't find the words...I love him. THANK YOU forallyouknow for puting him on youtube.
To me the unique quality of this rendition is that his voice sounds like it has a firm foundation on which it can relax. Some of the others have this effect to varying degrees, but this tenor (whom i'm hearing for the first time) seems to have the pitch and placement down so firmly that his voice is completely freed to truly 'perform'. It is just really freakishly super to sense that consistent firmness throughout after listening to versions of this by everyone from Kaufmann to Wunderlich, from Kraus to Gedda, etc., some much better than the others, but this tops them all in its quality of free artistic flight unhindered by even the slightest touch of underlying instability or unsureness.
As a fellow tenor I can honestly say I have NEVER heard a better version; what a magnificent artist; How I wish I had heard him perform; Bravo Bravo Bravo!
and as a tenor you KNOW how difficult this aria is! This is truly great singing!
@@jefolson6989 It's always the simple sounding pieces that are brutal. This is just long legato phrases and very little flash or accompaniment. There's nothing to hide behind.
The perfect Mozart tenor - Simoneau as beautiful and controlled as usual - no wonder Beecham insisted on him being his tenor in the 1950s Seraglio performance!
Wunderlich, although the definitive tenor for Mozart's operas in the German language, could not have exhibited the refinement and artistic phrasing Simoneau displays here. Of the many illustrious lyric tenors that hailed from French Canada, Simoneau was in my opinion the finest.
PERFECTION!
There are several great versions of this aria on youtube, but when I listen to Simoneau, I get the strong feeling that this might very well be the "Un'aura amorosa" Mozart himself had in mind. Absolute mastery of voice and style, zero bad habits or faults. You can just sit back and enjoy this crème de la crème. (somehow, I always knew that French delicacy would be a perfect match for Mozartian operas, here's the proof ;-)
Straight from heaven! Yesterday he was new to me. Today I'm one of his admirers.
Thanks for posting!
Breathtakingly beautiful!!!!!
Yes - a perfect version. But other versions from more earth-bound voices can offer something different. But for pure abstract beauty of tone, musicality and personality this remains unbeaten and unbeatable.
Wow, how good he was!!!!. His voice is free flotting in his upper head and resounding through his mask,Bravooo!!!!. Hope I could have had listen more to his material before!!!!!
A beautiful, beautiful recording of a beautiful voice - magnifico, maestro.
A touching aria, beautifully sung here. I'll leave it to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to decide who sing it better!
Wow listened again.. Just amazing.. The high notes are sung so matter of factly, never emphasized, just part of the whole phrase and placed so delicately, like he's just lightly touching them with absolute continuity of timbre and pitch. You actually hear the fullness of certain phrases the continuity of which is just lost in other's renditions. Few singers seem to truly achieve this: to not aim for the high notes, but simply sing through them as passing by. But what a huge difference it makes when they can do this! By deemphasizing the high notes and making them a perfect part of the continuous whole, they achieve in making them even more spine-chilling in their effect
Une voix colorée, parfaite. J'ai toujours adorée cette voix unique!
I honestly can't decide which I like more Lehtipuu's wonderful interpretation, or this perfect, restrained, elegant lyricism, by the last great singer of the Old French School.
Excellent!!!, what else can someone say about this interpretation of Leopolod Simoneau?, he was a extraordinary talented tenor, that still on our days, marks a molde to follow by all lyrical artists. Thanks for sharing.Bravoo!!!!
Why is he lesser known? I'm glad I discovered this singer. May I say one of the better ones?
@duchaspa Oh, not only getting older ! I'm an 18 year-old tenor and Simoneau is my favourite tenor. A role model for any leggiero tenor in terms of technique, and for anyone in terms of musicality. for sure one of the best in Mozart, alongside with Wunderlich (for anything in German... that's a name you guys are lucky to have in your patrimony!)
@ericbach1993
One of my favorite recordings of all time. I listened to Simoneau's rendition every day for a week, and wept every time! What a wonderful gift.
This is so beautiful. It puts many in the shade by a long way.
Un'aura amorosa
Del nostro tesoro
Un dolce ristoro
Al cor porgerà;
Al cor che, nudrito
Da speme, da amore,
Di un'esca migliore
Bisogno non ha.
A breath of love
From our treasures
Will afford our hearts
Sweet sustenance.
A heart nourished
On the hope of love
Has no need
Of greater inducement.
Lorenzo da Ponte: 10/03/1749 Vittorio Veneto, Italia - 17/08/1838 New York City, USA
so convincing and attractive, love his pace, and Leopold's timber of voice is perfect for this aria. Love and love,
Eine Arie, in der er alle seine Stärken voll zur Geltung bringen kann: ein honigsüßes und edles Timbre, perfekte
Phrasierung und mirakulöses Messa di
voce! Schöner kann man kaum singen!
@dearheloise I agree. I listen to this version on my way to work everyday to start my day. Sublime.
Wunderlich wins my admiration, Simoneau gives me goosebumps.
It sounds a step higher than written (as do so many recordings on RUclips), which drives me NUTS!!! That said, his phrasing is exquisite and his technique truly bel canto. Superb.
Léopold Simoneau est décédé la même année où l’on fêtait partout dans le monde le 250 ième anniversaire de la naissance de Mozart....À croire que celui qu’il avait tant interprété au cours de sa vie,daignait le rappeler vers lui....Sublime interprète!Mais encore trop peu connu chez-lui.....Viviane Dubé (4 décembre 2017).
Il me rappelle mon père qui essayait de chanter comme lui, j'ai bien dis essayait!
@@jeantourangeau4497 Etes vous par hasard de la famille de la magnifique Huguette Tourangeau?
The epitome of Mozartian singing. I can think of only one other who might come close -- Fritz Wunderlich. This is an unforgettable interpretation of a tender aria.
It's not easy to follow Mozart's directions that music must "flow like oil"' and the many attempts at this most difficult and most beautiful aria of Mozart by even the big names from the operatic firmament have floundered, all ending up sounding like "damp squids"....except Simoneau, who here sings it so effortlessly, without a tinge of self-consciouness that can be the pitfall of many an artiste in the sublime music of this divine composer. sd goh (malaysia)
For his voice it may was easier to mix and make soft phrases in high register when this aria is transposed a half step higher. Anyway; This is incredible... Fantastic
transcendent! one is transported to another place listening to such sublime artistry and musicianship. that is really something, coming after listening to one of my absolute and forever favorites - Fritz Wunderlich.
after hearing simoneau singing un aura amorosa that is the aria I want to live with ruben orta
It is, of course, my pleasure.
Today (August 24) thirteen years ago, the great Leopold Simoneau passed away. A truly wonderful Mozart tenor.
@tamino20002000 Some lighter voiced tenors' voices are just placed higher, higher tessitura. They find this key actually easier to sing in than the original key. I myself find this 'transposed up' key easier to sing in. It's not to show off, just more comfortable. You'll often hear Don Ottavio's first aria 'dalla sua pace' transposed up as well.
Such a gorgeous and sweet tone!! I know of only one equal to this: listen to Daniel Behle's recent recent recording of this aria. They are both perfection in my mind, but Behle's pianissimo in the middle of the aria is unbelievably exquisite.
Sublime!
Der Odem der Liebe. Wie schön Simoneau es singt. Schade dass er auch schon tot ist,.Auf Alfredo Kraus nochmals zu kommen, er sang etwas nasal, aber seine technik war unvergleichlich gut. Kernige Tenöre wie Giacomini sind mir natürlich auch lieber, Giacomini kommt nicht überall an, Er ist halt ein dramatischer Tenor mit einem baritonalem Timbre, aber die dramatische Höhe
einfach genial,
Gruß Alfred
PURA MARAVILLA
Never?! Goodness. He's one to study, that's for sure!
me toca profundamente esta grabación!
Superb.
Estoy de acuerdo con "forallyouknow"! Casi llorando cuando estoy escuchando esta interpretación!
Superbe voix de ténor léger: un modèle!
Does anyone know whether Fritz Wunderlich sang this? It would be interesting to hear his version if there is one. He also had a beautiful 'romantic' voice.
beautiful tone; dark, maybe navy blue. Like warmth in a cold cold night.
@SoulNotes1 '
course he did. best version of this as all of his are. i have it in german on a cd but i had a cd with him singing dalla sua pace, this, and il mio tesoro in italian and i cant find it.
he sings nice with high position flexible.notice when he does a G note for example piano smooth wow! notice when he does his A notes piano smooth wow!!
what a lecture on how to sing!!
@waynetenor Check out his Tamino complete live recording. It's great!
I prefer the Wunderlich version myself - but this is very beautiful too.
Does anyone know if this performance comes from the complete Cosi recording w/ Schwarzkopf, Nan Merriman, etc. cond. by von Karajan? Great musician -- like de los Angeles & others he could capture the essence that is beyond the notes.
its in a higher key, too!
🥂🍾🙏😁
its in a higher key, too! LISTEN TO SIMONEAU SING EN FERMANT LES YEUX...IT IS THE VERY BEST RECORDING OF IT I PROMISE.
I’m a high tenor also but I don’t think I could sing it in Bb!
Yes, but I wonder who was the recording producer? I doubt it could have beet Walter Legge as he would not have allowed the aspirate "H"'s to have slipped by even at the very beginning on the word "amaorosa", indeed each time the word is repeated. A exceedingly difficult aria with very few totally satisfactory recordings, maybe the best of all is the largely forgotten Aksel Schiotz while also remembering Patzak, Wunderlich and Kraus
LOVE Asel Schiotz! His Mozart recordings are essential, but I wouldnt want to do without THIS! Thank God I don't have to choose. Sublime!
"After having heard this, I don't think I want to hear anyone else even attempt this aria. I'm sure you'll agree--this is the best."
Hold my beer...
soy de acuerdo de "forallyouknow"!
this is sung by Simoneau in B flat, not in A, as shold be. why?
This is absolutely first-rate...but for me, still second to Rainer Trost's version with John Eliot Gardiner (ruclips.net/video/CTAa2KwCF3U/видео.html). I love the lightness, ease, and naturalness of his version.
Why is it up a semi-tone? To show off?
he isn't sharp, they just put him up a notch to suite his voice better, or (and this is most likely) the record sped up
Thin? You must think singing Mozart is the same as singing Verdi. No clue, poor guy.
I can't believe this has this many views and likes despite being a semitone sharp!
+Phillip Huang Well, that isn't at all what makes (or breaks) a performance!
+Phillip Huang ...WOW! A WHOLE semitone. SCHRECKLICH!
C'est de la jalousie! Vous êtes suédois, et vous défendez les chanteurs de votre pays. Je peux comprendre cela, mais où est votre objectivité?
Topi Lehtipuu does it infinitely better. Though this dude's not bad. His voice sounds a bit thin.
beleza pura
:-D !!!!