Léopold Simoneau

Composers

Biography

Born: May 3, 1916; St.-Flavien, Quebec, Canada   Died: August 24, 2006; Victoria, British Columbia, Canada  
Simoneau was the prototypical Mozart tenor, with an unusually sweet voice, strong breath control, easy pianos and pianissimos, and graceful phrasing. His unstrained head voice also made him ideal for French lyric roles, such as Wilhelm Meister in Mignon, Nicias in Thais, and Nadir in Les Pêcheurs de Perles, operas in which he enjoyed great success as well.

He studied in Montreal with Salvator Issaurel and made his operatic debut there in Read more 1941, as Hadji in Delibes' Lakmé. In 1949, he made his debuts in Paris, at the Opera-Comique as Vincent in Gounod's Mireille and at the Opera as Tamino in The Magic Flute. His Glyndebourne debut was in 1951 as Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo, and he made his La Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, Salzburg, and Met debuts in Mozart roles as well. While Mozart and French operas made up his core repertoire, he also appeared in the lighter Italian roles, including Alfredo in La traviata.

He married soprano Pierette Alarie in 1946. After their retirements, they founded the Canada Opera Piccola a touring company that specializes in nurturing young singers, in 1986. (One of Opera Piccola's alumni is tenor Richard Margison.) Though the performance version is heavily cut, his Idamante in Pritchard's first recording of Idomeneo (EMI CHS7 63685-2) is ravishing, as is his Nadir on Philips under Fournet (Philips 434 782-2). Read less
Browse 1-25 of 50 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    Singers Of The Century - 40 Greats Of The 20th Century
    Singers Of The Century - 40 Greats Of The 20th Century
    Label: Regis   Catalog: 2078 Release Date: 01/29/2013   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi,  Giacomo Puccini,  Pietro Mascagni,  Umberto Giordano  ... 
    Performer:  Ettore Bastianini,  Giuseppe Taddei,  Richard Tucker,  Mario Del Monaco  ... 
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  • 2.
    Voices Of German Opera
    Voices Of German Opera
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 40497 Release Date: 07/31/2012   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Carl Maria von Weber,  Heinrich Marschner  ... 
    Performer:  Natalie Dessay,  Edda Moser,  Kurt Moll,  Walter Berry  ... 
    Conductor:  Louis Langrée,  Wolfgang Sawallisch,  Berislav Klobucar,  Rudolf Moralt  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment,  Bavarian State Opera Orchestra,  Berlin Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 3.
    Bizet: Les Pecheurs De Perles / Fournet, Simoneau, Alarie
    Bizet: Les Pecheurs De Perles / Fournet, Simoneau, Alarie
    Label: Guild   Catalog: 2382/83 Release Date: 11/08/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Pierrette Alarie,  Léopold Simoneau,  René Bianco,  Xavier Depraz
    Conductor:  Jean Fournet
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lamoureux Concerts Association Orchestra,  Elisabeth Brasseur Chorus
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  • 4.
    Bruno Walter Conducts Mozart
    Bruno Walter Conducts Mozart
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 7906832 Release Date: 09/06/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Zino Francescatti,  Irmgard Seefried,  Léopold Simoneau,  Jennie Tourel  ... 
    Conductor:  Bruno Walter
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Columbia Symphony Orchestra,  New York Philharmonic,  Westminster Choir
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  • 5.
    Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte / Karajan, Schwarzkopf, Merriman, Panerai
    Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte / Karajan, Schwarzkopf, Merriman, Panerai
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 48245 Release Date: 04/05/2011   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Rolando Panerai,  Nan Merriman,  Lisa Otto,  Sesto Bruscantini  ... 
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra
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  • 6.
    Mozart: Die Zauberflote / Bohm, Guden, Berry, Loose, Bohme
    Mozart: Die Zauberflote / Bohm, Guden, Berry, Loose, Bohme
    Label: London/Decca Grand Opera Series   Catalog: 414362 Release Date: 02/25/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  August Jaresch,  Emmy Loose,  Kurt Böhme,  Walter Berry  ... 
    Conductor:  Karl Böhm
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna State Opera Chorus,  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 7.
    Mozart Legendary Interpretations - Walter, Pons, Steber, Pinza, London
    Mozart Legendary Interpretations - Walter, Pons, Steber, Pinza, London
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 47211 Release Date: 01/28/2010   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  William Warfield,  Jennie Tourel,  Irmgard Seefried,  Léopold Simoneau  ... 
    Conductor:  Bruno Walter
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  New York Philharmonic,  Westminster Choir,  Columbia Symphony Orchestra  ... 
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  • 8.
    Mozart: Don Giovanni / London, Weber, Zadek
    Mozart: Don Giovanni / London, Weber, Zadek
    Label: Preiser Records   Catalog: 90762 Release Date: 10/13/2009   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  George Neikrug,  George London,  Léopold Simoneau,  Sena Jurinac  ... 
    Conductor:  Bruno Walter,  Rudolf Moralt
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  • 9.
    Best Tenor Voices 100
    Best Tenor Voices 100
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 06701 Release Date: 10/06/2009   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Pietro Mascagni,  Francesco Cilèa,  Umberto Giordano,  Giacomo Puccini  ... 
    Performer:  Franco Corelli,  Corinna Vozza,  Adriana Lazzarini,  Rolando Villazón  ... 
    Conductor:  Gabriele Santini,  Marcello Viotti,  Umberto Berrettoni,  Alain Lombard  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Rome Opera House Orchestra,  Munich Radio Orchestra,  Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra  ... 
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  • 10.
    Bizet: Carmen / Le Conte, Rubio, Simoneau, Rehfuss, Lopez, Et Al
    Bizet: Carmen / Le Conte, Rubio, Simoneau, Rehfuss, Lopez, Et Al
    Label: Urania   Catalog: 378 Release Date: 04/28/2009   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Georges Bizet
    Performer:  Pierrette Alarie,  Francine Arrauzau,  Heinz Rehfuss,  Consuela Rubio  ... 
    Conductor:  Pierre-Michel Le Conte
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Concerts de Paris Orchestra
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  • 11.
    The Very Best Of Glyndebourne On Record - Mozart, Britten, Verdi, Stravinsky, Monteverdi, Rossini, Lehar, Etc
    The Very Best Of Glyndebourne On Record - Mozart, Britten, Verdi, Stravinsky, Monteverdi, Rossini, Lehar, Etc
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 64218 Release Date: 04/21/2009   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  John Gay,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Benjamin Britten,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  Michael Redgrave,  Constance Willis,  Audrey Mildmay,  Roy Henderson  ... 
    Conductor:  Michael Muddie,  Fritz Busch,  Reginald Goodall,  Sir Thomas Beecham  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Glyndebourne Festival Chorus,  Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra,  English Opera Group Orchestra  ... 
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  • 12.
    The Record of Singing Vol 5 - From the LP to the Digital Era
    The Record of Singing Vol 5 - From the LP to the Digital Era
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 28949 Release Date: 03/10/2009   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Ralph Vaughan Williams,  Jacques Offenbach,  Georges Bizet,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  John Shirley-Quirk,  Luciana Serra,  Neil Shicoff,  Alain Vanzo  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir David Willcocks,  Sylvain Cambreling,  Georges Prêtre,  Herbert von Karajan  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra,  Brussels Théâtre de la Monnaie Orchestra,  Paris Opera Orchestra  ... 
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  • 13.
    100 Best Tenor Arias
    100 Best Tenor Arias
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 2427202 Release Date: 02/09/2009   Number of Discs: 6
    Composer:  Giacomo Meyerbeer,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Richard Wagner,  Johann Strauss Jr.  ... 
    Performer:  José Carreras,  Fritz Wunderlich,  Siegfried Jerusalem,  Peter Haage  ... 
    Conductor:  Jacques Delacôte,  Berislav Klobucar,  Bernard Haitink,  Heinz Wallberg  ... 
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  • 14.
    Prima Voce - Rolando Panerai
    Prima Voce - Rolando Panerai
    Label: Nimbus   Catalog: 7949 Release Date: 06/10/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Vincenzo Bellini,  Gioachino Rossini,  Giuseppe Verdi  ... 
    Performer:  Rolando Panerai,  Léopold Simoneau,  Margherita Carosio
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan,  Tullio Serafin,  Alceo Galliera,  Nino Sanzogno
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra
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  • 15.
    Offenbach: Les Contes D'hoffmann / Conte, Simoneau, Dobbs, Graf, Et Al
    Offenbach: Les Contes D'hoffmann / Conte, Simoneau, Dobbs, Graf, Et Al
    Label: Urania   Catalog: 349 Release Date: 04/29/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Jacques Offenbach
    Performer:  Léopold Simoneau,  Nata Tüscher,  Mattiwilda Dobbs,  Aimé Doniat  ... 
    Conductor:  Pierre-Michel Le Conte
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestre de Paris Chorus,  Concerts de Paris Orchestra
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  • 16.
    Gluck: Orphée Et Eurydice / Müller, Simoneau, Alarie
    Gluck: Orphée Et Eurydice / Müller, Simoneau, Alarie
    Label: Vai Audio   Catalog: 4394 Release Date: 02/26/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Christoph W. Gluck
    Performer:  Léopold Simoneau,  Pierrette Alarie,  Claire Gagnier
    Conductor:  Otto-Werner Mueller
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Radio Canada Orchestra,  Orchestre symphonique de Radio-Canada Orchestra
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  • 17.
    Legendary Treasures - Simoneau & Alarie Vol 1
    Legendary Treasures - Simoneau & Alarie Vol 1
    Label: Doremi Records   Catalog: 7916 Release Date: 01/08/2008   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Igor Stravinsky
    Performer:  Léopold Simoneau,  Pierrette Alarie
    Conductor:  Igor Stravinsky
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  • 18.
    Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte (Complete + 9 Bonus Arias)
    Mozart: Cosi Fan Tutte (Complete + 9 Bonus Arias)
    Label: Regis   Catalog: 3010 Release Date: 01/01/2008   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Rolando Panerai,  Nan Merriman,  Lisa Otto,  Sesto Bruscantini  ... 
    Conductor:  Herbert von Karajan
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra
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  • 19.
    Gluck: Orphée Et Eurydice / Hans Rosbaud, Simoneau, Danco
    Gluck: Orphée Et Eurydice / Hans Rosbaud, Simoneau, Danco
    Label: Philips   Catalog: 434784 Release Date: 11/27/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Christoph W. Gluck
    Performer:  Suzanne Danco,  Pierrette Alarie,  Léopold Simoneau
    Conductor:  Hans Rosbaud
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lamoureux Concerts Association Orchestra
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  • 20.
    The Beecham Edition - Beecham: In Rehearsal
    The Beecham Edition - Beecham: In Rehearsal
    Label: Emi Studio   Catalog: 64465 Release Date: 10/09/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Ludwig van Beethoven,  Franz Liszt,  George Frideric Handel,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  ... 
    Performer:  Alexander Young,  Léopold Simoneau,  Lois Marshall,  Gottlob Frick
    Conductor:  Sir Thomas Beecham
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  Beecham Choral Society
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  • 21.
    Mozart: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail, Etc / Beecham, Jouve
    Mozart: Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail, Etc / Beecham, Jouve
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 93261 Release Date: 09/25/2007   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Léopold Simoneau,  Hilde Volk,  Fritz Hopper,  Manfred Schmidt  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Thomas Beecham,  André Jouve
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  Beecham Choral Society,  Champs-Élysées Theater Orchestra
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  • 22.
    Mozart: Don Giovanni / Mitropoulos, Siepi, Grümmer
    Mozart: Don Giovanni / Mitropoulos, Siepi, Grümmer
    Label: Myto Records   Catalog: 128 Release Date: 09/25/2007   Number of Discs: 3
    Composer:  Johannes Brahms,  Franz Schubert,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Hugo Wolf
    Performer:  Lisa Della Casa,  Arpád Sándor,  Gottlob Frick,  Elisabeth Grümmer  ... 
    Conductor:  Dimitri Mitropoulos
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Vienna State Opera Chorus,  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
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  • 23.
    Fauré: Lieder Vol 2 / Bernac, Bonelli, Doria, Guillamat, Marcelin, Et Al
    Fauré: Lieder Vol 2 / Bernac, Bonelli, Doria, Guillamat, Marcelin, Et Al
    Label: Hafg   Catalog: 40037 Release Date: 06/12/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Gabriel Fauré
    Performer:  Pierre Bernac,  Emile Marcelin,  Ninon Vallin,  Renée Doria  ... 
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  • 24.
    Pierrette Alarie & Léopold Simoneau - Mozart Vol 1 - Arias, Duets & Lieder
    Pierrette Alarie & Léopold Simoneau - Mozart Vol 1 - Arias, Duets & Lieder
    Label: Hafg   Catalog: 10318 Release Date: 06/12/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    Performer:  Léopold Simoneau,  John Newmark,  Pierrette Alarie
    Conductor:  J. M. Baudet,  André Jouve
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Radio Canada Orchestra,  Champs-Élysées Theater Orchestra
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  • 25.
    Pierrette Alarie - Couperin, Fauré, Mozart, Vivaldi
    Pierrette Alarie - Couperin, Fauré, Mozart, Vivaldi
    Label: Hafg   Catalog: 10319 Release Date: 06/12/2007   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  François Couperin,  Gabriel Fauré,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer:  Pierrette Alarie,  Basia Retchitzka,  Marie Therese Cahn,  Léopold Simoneau  ... 
    Conductor:  Jean Fournet,  André Jouve,  Ernest Bour
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Lamoureux Concerts Association Orchestra,  Paris Pro Musica Orchestra,  Society of the Conservatory Concerts Orchestra  ... 
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