Léopold Simoneau

The French-Canadian tenor Léopold Simoneau (1916 -2006) earned one of the longest and most vociferous ovations in Lyric history for his singing of "Una furtiva lagrima" in L'elisir d'amore. He also shone in fabled Lyric performances of La traviata (opposite Maria Callas) and Così fan tutte. His name stands for the finest standards of singing, particularly in French repertoire and in the Mozart operas with which he made his name internationally.

Legends of Lyric Logo - Singers from which legends are made.

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Maria Callas and Léopold Simoneau in La traviata, 1955.

Leopold Simoneau (Ferrando), Christa Ludwig (Dorabella), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Fiordiligi), and Walter Berry (Guglielmo) in Così fan tutte, 1959.

Photo: Nancy Sorensen

Walter Berry (Guglielmo), Christa Ludwig (Dorabella), Renato Cesari (Don Alfonso), Sylvia Stahlman (Despina), Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (Fiordiligi), and Léopold Simoneau (Ferrando) in Così fan tutte,1961.

Photo: Nancy Sorensen

Léopold Simoneau and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

Photo: Nancy Sorensen

Listen to Roger Pines's tribute to Léopold Simoneau

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Léopold Simoneau's roles at Lyric

Main photo: Leopold Simoneau as Alfredo in La traviata, 1954. Photo by Nancy Sorensen.