Klaus Nomi: Samson and Delilah (Aria) Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix (1978)

"Toward the end of the show, the lights dimmed and the room was filled with a thundering musical ovation. The curtains opened and the spotlight fell on a strange, unearthly presence wearing a black gown, clear plastic cape, and white gloves. As the orchestral refrain from Saint-Saens' 'Samson And Delila' was played, this strange Weimar version of Mickey Mouse began singing in an angelic voice. "I still get goose pimples when I think about it," remembers Joey Arias, who was in the audience that night. "Everyone became completely quite until it was over."
Steven Hager, Art After Midnight: The East Village Scene1986 St. Martin's Press, excerpts
Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns (Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix).

[@craftiestcraftstress]

my 17 month old won't go to sleep without seeing this video first... but then she goes right to sleep after hearing it.

[@8angst8]

Stop virtue-signalling. You're the same type of "mother" that would take her 5-year-old to a stupid drag-queen story hour, just to post later that you'd done so. Klaus Nomi is great. He's an artist. He's NOT, however, a touch-point for PC people. He's beyond that.

[@craftiestcraftstress]

PS. As I type this, my fourteen-year-old daughter is blasting Siouxsie and the Banshees from her bedroom... And I couldn't be more proud, to have the only teenage daughter on the block with such amazing taste in music. Have a great day :)

[@clairewithbanjo4992]

Raising them right

[@sclerismockrey8506]

thank you for raising them right!

[@sclerismockrey8506]

bravo!!!

[@physalia2]

How lucky we are to have a record of this performance.

[@anaabendroth3460]

Even luckier to have video!!

[@MrUnidyne]

It begins with mocking laughter, it ends with thunderous applause. Nomi had them in the palm of his hand.

[@recovergirl]

I was in the audience this night, totally randomly and not knowing what to expect. You can't imagine what being in the same room with Klaus was like. Its was awe inspiring, deeply moving and surreal. My knees almost buckled after this performance. It changed my world forever. The following week I met Joey Arias with Klaus at Fiorucci's and my life was transformed.

[@aliceharper707]

I envy you. ❤️

[@scented-leafpelargonium3366]

Susan Supercharged : Such a beautiful story. 🤍

[@Joeyvannac]

🙀🙀🙀🙀

[@edgreisl1]

So jealous that you saw this. I would die to have experienced this

[@user-yg5qd8lz7q]

Да, если я, смотря эти записи, выпадаю в осадок, то представляю, что можно было чувствовать, находясь рядом с Клаусом.

[@koputai]

Happy Birthday Klaus, you would have been 80 today.

[@MrUnidyne]

One of finest countertenors to walk the planet! Notice how the audience goes silent when they realize he's not lip-synching to a Maria Callas record, and the snickers turn into applause. This was the performance that changed his life, and Klaus Sperber the pastry chef became Klaus Nomi the phenomenon.

[@macbird-lt8de]

Wow you mean he can bake too?

[@irinashef9971]

@@macbird-lt8deкогда он приехал в Нью-Йорк, он работал там кондитером

[@ManParrishArtist]

This is where I met Klaus and he would up being an amazing friend! Very missed! - Man Parrish

[@mhtpk1989]

Man Parrish tell every single detail plz

[@rogerbarrett6543]

We all miss him.

[@rogerbarrett6543]

You know, your friend Klaus Nomi was quite an impressive showman. He could've been the next big thing since Elvis Presley!

[@EphemeralProductions]

Indeed. Hugs my dear sir

[@davidcraig75]

Today I stumbled upon him , he looks like he would be fun and kind . I saw your name in the comments ,and had to go to my my all time song , HipHop, Dont stop . Thank you for the dogs barking , Still...

[@Bogframe]

Perhaps even more stunning than Klaus' (literally) stunning performance is the fact that I went through 15 pages of comment and didn't find one derogatory comment. We need more like him, but sadly, you will probably never see his like in this lifetime.

[@amb600cd0]

i think most who knew him stopped knowing where to look

[@MrAtaristic]

Klaus was just too beautiful for this planet

[@melhope]

I was just sitting here thinking that we only call him a countertenor because he was male. That's really a mezzo soprano voice. He had as much space and ease in the upper range of his voice as any soprano.

[@DivinaDeCampoTV]

A sopranista ❤

[@macbird-lt8de]

I cant tell the differennce between male alto and contratenor

[@dvldog_]

Just discovered Klaus today... This is usually not my cup of tea, but I can't escape his voice... I have never heard anything quite like him... I grew up listening to Placido Domingo (my Dad's fave tenor) and Pavarotti and others, but Nomi defies description.........

[@trylonperisphere]

"he is like a real life version of the diva from the movie The Fifth Element." That's my favorite scene from that movie! :)

[@Naavy2000]

He would sing her song like no one else. I also thought, if "Farinelli" was made, when he was alive, he would be the only person in the world to act and really sing in this movie (and leave as - I am sure - completely stunned). I'm so happy, that we have internet, without it I could never knew, Nomi existed!

[@cerissalopez7378]

literally what I thought when I saw this...

[@jacquelinej143]

Perhaps he was some inspiration

[@Fuchsfein]

I'm happy to have discovered Klaus Nomi today. I'm happy that this was recorded. Absolutely spellbinding, the voice is so beautiful and his strange demeanor and appearance add an otherworldly flair to the performance. It is sad that he couldn't be with us longer. What a voice...

[@DearRealDiary]

If this doesn't convince you that music has the power to change our souls, then nothing will. Thank you, Klaus, for your brilliant beauty and your inspiring courage. I never knew you, but I miss you like hell.

[@stephenphillips9392]

A beautiful aria done so perfectly. I wish he was still around.

[@isisstardust]

Had he been around longer, he would have changed music on a larger scale, such beauty shouldn't be kept in the underground.

[@janicebelfiore856]

Happy Birthday Klaus! When Nomi was born on the stage!

[@amovalinhos3334]

Apaixonada por ele,descobri hoje..Que coisa mais linda...

[@vdiaz1051]

I cry every time I listen to this...Klaus Nomi was just far more than words said before, he was very gifted, he makes me have goosebumps, so many sensations I can't explain

[@Ranyanya]

He was a total eclipse.

[@rolandmagiera3728]

This is one of the very rare occasions, when i have the impression to experience the true essence of art.

[@rabit818]

I wish I was in that hall listening to Nomi live. Brilliant performance!

[@TheGreatGazpacho]

Now that's what I call space opera

[@rudigerschwarz1186]

.........VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL........he was from another star........

[@LarissaCraig]

I get a little misty every time I hear this song. His voice has a way of traveling to the very core of your soul.

[@crunterstamps]

Pure Genius and Magic.RIP Klaus Nomi

[@katialetellier7243]

Pur moment magique !! Voix splendide !! On ferme les yeux on se laisse transporter par cette voix superbe!! Merci Monsieur Klaus Nomi 🖤🖤

[@ArtScene3000]

i lived in the east village when klaus was there. saw him many times live and at restaurants , clubs etc.. He was great and funny and a sweet nice guy.

[@electro808kat]

Holy Sh!t wot is it? Its Klaus Nomi, the one & only....never been anyone quite like him...the most beautiful piece of classical opera he ever sung....is what it is! RIP

[@jrh98033]

His debut in the Village. Love THIS recording in (comparative) color.

[@tokyohalogen]

Jessye Norman has a truly breathtaking version. I love Klaus so much though and his version was actually the first I ever heard and it still breaks my heart.

[@tyxikosgatopoulos3094]

Superb and weird at the same time .

[@del4604]

beautiful voice 😓😭😭😭😭

[@2015Drama]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much for sharing this relic with us. Now all of KZbin can watch it’s like for a legend to be born.

[@natasakaleskovic1690]

Very good interpretation. Better than many female voices.

[@Lola4392]

I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Nomi!!!!!!!!!! Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix!

[@cloudofhornets1914]

His cape is at MoMA right now! I'm going!

[@eleonora1782]

@suzbailey23 Totally agree with you. I'm a trained soprano , and when it comes to delivery of expression and feeling, Klaus is a big inspiration for me. While I wouldn't say that the pros so much have the emotion trained out of them, it is true that with most, it's more of very carefully rehearsed expression than true feeling. In this case Nomi can be compared to Maria Callas, so intensely immersed in the beauty of the music. I look not to Sutherland for inspiration, but Klaus Nomi!

[@janicebelfiore856]

Beautiful

[@cakebythelake]

What a beautiful voice. Fun to see the entire performance! Thanks for posting this treasure....you are the finder of lost keys!

[@mhtpk1989]

i think this is my favorite footage of him. fucking amazing..

[@nymuseum1601]

I used to work with Tom Scully at Grinberg who along with Susan Hannaford produced the New Wave Vaudeville show. I did the curtains for the show. My friend Mark Bottino did one of the spotlights. Good times back then.

[@mattincinci]

This is so beautiful I cry when I hear this.

[@suzbailey23]

I want to edit my comment: I think maybe it's the aspect of vulnerability that he portrays that makes this performance so thrilling. Maybe he was nervous of whether he could pull it off or not- fearing what would happen if the audience didn't fall under his spell. I don't know, of course. But perhaps it's that initial fear, growing into beautiful, pure, emotional power, that holds me so spellbound. I watch this vid very, very often. I'm so thankful that this moment was captured on film.

[@vanityqueen1]

My Mom and him were best friends. Ill show this to her, I don't know if they had met yet at this time.

[@CuttySobz]

Yeah yeah..

[@taniamcphelim6900]

I believe you xo

[@julimekanika]

Nunca más volveremos a ver ni escuchar algo así. Klaus, siempre grande!

[@user-yg5qd8lz7q]

Какая незримая магнетическая сила! Просто фантастика.! ❤

[@beatrixczihak1986]

wonder that he was no Opera star - underestimated and wonderful voice - speechless - even my guinea pig does a satisfying wrrrrrrrrr!!

[@MrUnidyne]

Officially he was a countertenor, but you're right, he does hit Mezzo-soprano at some points. Lord, but that man had a voice!

[@carolinaazul1243]

Se me ponen los pelos del sobaco erizaos Preciosa voz Escénico Maravilloso Único Especial Genuino Genio

[@xinthrau8520]

my comment disappeared along with the rest of my stuff but I still feel that this is like an alien came down after hearing our radio and sung this song as a way of greeting and thankyou for the beautiful music

[@kevinorbis9586]

wow that's beautiful

[@strangefruit42]

Thank you for talking about Klaus in "The Nomi Song", Man. You all did so fantastic work on this and brought this wonderful artist closer to us. Still there are so many things we want to know. I can't even imagine how it must be to have known Klaus and then have lost him. Thank you for sharing your part of "Planet Nomi".

[@jonmanuel8245]

Freakin' BRAVO! Luv the way the Strobe lights and Smoke semi obscure his movements making it seem like he is slowly, slowly just fading away...

[@crazyorganist1609]

He sings it with such an emotional depth that it stops you in your very tracks. He had dramatic intent which is a rare quality in a singer. Callas had it as did Christa Ludwig.

[@Jofph]

This is so amazing!...his voice & performance...what can we say?...we're stunned...completely stunned...never seen and heard something like this before...never knew something like this could ever exist...I feel so small...and big at the same time.

[@DazeyMay]

To think we had him in our lifetime and that he reached so many to appreciate him. Simply amazing, like this performance.

[@johnnyboyvan]

Wow I am impressed with his voice...let the clarions of Heaven sing forever Klaus. Vielen Dank fur alles.

[@khukhem1001]

Thank you so much ! I cried for this song!Klaus Nomi is my kami!

[@georgygirl64uk]

That note!!!!! That note is EVERYTHING.

[@colabama]

stunning and awesomely, ineffably beautiful voice

[@magstoriches]

another version of the clear cape. i love how it glints green and red in the lights...amazing.

[@CanadianMaid]

So great! Otherworldly!

[@Stratocasterjosh]

Every morning i hear this beaitful Song sung by Klaus, i can`t believe it, it`s magical, this Aria is touching me very deeply and i will or not, it rans tears out of my eyes... Thank you my Friend Klaus !!!

[@kennethstark]

no lip sync, no autotune. Let's talk about the top 100 of today. Amazing, amazing artist.

[@Lengsel7]

It took pure balls to do something so original...and pure skill to do it so well.

[@janicebelfiore856]

This and his last performance of the Cold Song are so great!!

[@MrUnidyne]

Notice how the hecklers stopped and then gave him a rousing applause.

[@reptilestudios433]

if you keep measuring hights and tonal quality while watching this video, you didn't understand anything. Just quit.

[@Royalbrettania]

bra-fucking-vo!!!!!!

[@allanclark3283]

He WAS an Alien. He knew the future better than we do. Check out the lyrics to Total Eclipse, if you don't believe me.

[@karenstauffer1524]

I'm not an opera fan, but I love it along with everything Klaus did.

[@Maria-ej5hh]

klaus nomi es increible !!!!!!!! Maravilla de voz

[@callmelazybones]

this is the best video on youtube. will all of you please stop bickering about what his voice is? please? it blocking my view of this marvelous performance... just read his wiki :)

[@adrianobezerra4098]

Esse ser maravilhoso q amo sou do recife Pernambuco Brasil melhor cantor e um anjo

[@janicebelfiore856]

I play this often. I love it

[@strangefruit42]

Is there even a word to describe Klaus Nomi? Stunning nearly seems to be understatement. The only word saying it is "Nomi", one can't describe him.

[@aldoalda7970]

Dios mio!!! This is fkng out of this world. Sublime. It is huge but at the same time humble respecting the craft that was given to him. I am 51. I was 12 when he died and I feel so sad that just today I learned about Mr. Nomi and I listened Nina Hagen and stuff like that. I believe In my country never play his music. Our loss... Thanks for this.

[@michellocatelli4652]

Génialissime Nomi . C'est magnifique ! A écouter sans modération ! Je suis fan et j'adore . RIP Monsieur Nomi.

[@mauricioarango135]

Give me a break. I love him.

[@ryousukem3285]

Magnificent✴

[@ORDOTRIO]

Maria Callas could never carry out that note and switch it over. Neither could Marilyn Horne. Klaus did it every time for years.

[@hotradiogaga]

I LOVE Klaus but no

[@fridakahlo4225]

@@hotradiogaga i know that Maria Callas sang it better in so many ways, anyone who listened to them can tell the vast difference. But there is something that gets me every time i listen to Klaus Nomi. I can't explain what it is, i wish i could. Maria gets me chilled but Nomi makes me cry.

[@Дядюшка_Хо]

@@gillan5 she is boring and academic

[@elvis75k]

@@fridakahlo4225 same :/

[@yayoineko]

@_@ woow... he came down, enchanted everyone, then got on his space ship and took off. so neat!

[@MrUnidyne]

"Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix" (My heart opens itself to your voice) from Camille Saint-Saëns's opera Samson and Delilah. Note how the audience suddenly grows silent when they realize he isn't lip-synching!

[@RonWylie-gk5lc]

Wonderful being we only had for the shortest time, what a voice and how original x

[@hannahwilliams4587]

Yes Klaus ! This gets better every time I see it!

[@carlosbalestretti1854]

SUBLIME. Klaus has not died, only returned to his dimension. too good for this fucking world

[@dustink6783]

A beautiful, talented human being lost too soon.

[@vixdix1]

beautiful!!!! forever. Are we lucky someone recorded this! :0)

[@bhooootha]

Ironic how I found this on a list which was titled WTF!music ... this is just soo beautiful!

[@serenaluce]

Beautiful! Bravo! Thanks for posting.

[@sergiohman]

2:22 man, it is just beautiful

[@bluenatural10]

Jamás en la vida habrá alguien que brille con tú luz hermoso Klaus Nomi

[@melindakiser9994]

Why, so many years people? We can't forget this magical master!!!!!!!.

[@edgarbeat275]

I am planning to do a stain glass panel portrait of Klause I simply adore his music and visual impact. Just relaxing listening to his music. Wonderful, amusing and enchanting. Before my time but I love Avant garde and New wave synth and acoustic music. 1978 to about 1983 / 84. Such a small time scale for that era I wonder how he would have evolved musical and visually. Utterly enchanting I dream music like this would hit the charts. I shared a video to my friend who was dismissive but later warmed to his style.

[@jeandeblaize4175]

Voici dans un condensé de 4 minutes, ce que fut la vie de Klaus Nomi : l'arrivée sur l'immense scène planétaire qu'est notre Terre, d'un Alien de l'art musical et lyrique qui à peine présent parmi nous (un milliardième de seconde au regard du temps galactique) disparut de nos yeux à peine dessillés et pour toujours, dans le brouillard et une obscurité éternelle au bout de laquelle, certains pensent que nous attend à la fin des temps la lumière de la résurrection des corps. Fête de Pâques, le 31 mars 2024

[@ceciliamelocastro5737]

BRILLIANT!!!!

[@anaabendroth3460]

the reaction of the audience is not dissimilar to audiences who first heard the great Castrati singers of Italy.

[@jablescreed]

My gosh this is so powerful! Just simple lighting effects with pure talent emanating out of Klaus vocally from his soul….Damn I missed this as I only have heard of his music and him a few weeks ago.. ♥️

[@kevmac1230]

Bravo!

[@Furzkampfbomber]

Chills...

[@tinamoyrmoyrh4296]

BEYUTIFUL VOICE

[@taniamcphelim6900]

I love him such a beautiful voice gifted love all that is him RIP Klaus Nomi

[@trylonperisphere]

Glad you like it! I have a few more gems yet to post before I'm tapped out.

[@Shindai]

Master of all that is awesome! Klaus, we salute you