As a child, I knew their voices through radio broadcasts, they were part of the French lyrical world and sang at the Aix-en-Provence Mozart Festival, shortly after its creation. Both Pierrette Alarie and her husband Leopold Simoneau were my parents' favourite singers in this post war period. So these voices were familiar to me. They still are. It is marvellous to see that their LPs are being converted into CDs with efficient sound effects.
René Bianco is also a wonderful baritone whose voice matches so well the delicate tops of tenor Leopold Simoneau. 'Au fond du temple saint' is a soft and progressive duet for tenor and baritone, a fine one to start the night, and rest.
Pierrette Alarie is eighty nine years old, and I do hope she is well. Next year on the 9th of November she will be ninety. When I look at their photo, a small black and white one I think of my parents, and wonder at the look of hope in their eyes. The war was over. Mum would have been ninety two this year. Same generation.
I used to listen to these voices on the radio a lot, as the radio set was the only medium available and very knowledgeable in those days. Here are the two Youtubes from fantastic uploaders who love fine singers.
Many thanks for this lovely post. I saw the Simoneaus in the 1960s in Abduction in Toronto. They were towards the end of their careers but were delightful. It was a school matinee and they came out afterwards and signed programmes. They then went on to be amongst the prime teachers of singers at the Banff School. A wonderful couple - as singers, people and teachers.
ReplyDeletePierrette Alarie left us two days ago. RIP.( Not many now are left from this generaton of singers and wonderful people).
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