Yoshikazu Mera

[KAY0ALTSMILE]

な、なみだが;_;！！！！！

ありがとうございます、米良さんの声には感動します!!!!

[NiHaoWoJiaoYang]

Its always the people who are great that suffers the worst diseases/pain.

[kuroikairai]

まったく関係無いのでしょうが、この動画を見て何故かロードオブ­ザリングのラストを思い出して目が潤みました。

なんて優しい歌声だろう、素晴らしい唄をＵＰ有難うございます。­

[yogo512]

米良さんかわいい(^^)

[maceblanc]

He have osteogenesis imperfecta, a congenital disease that affects normal growth and produce fragile bones. He is an example of self improvement to be a winner.

[glow0979]

So inspiring... thank you!!

[1bloodkiller1]

l0l reminds me of GTA Vice City and Mr Bean.

[ekomifingpa36]

What a voice!!!

[foret48]

空から何かが降りてきたような声。

好きな人は、CDで聴くことをオススメします。

アルバム“ベスト・オブ・米良良一”か、“ロマンス”で！

[48Marita]

Sasame Yuki

[snakeinthegrass20]

Nice counter tenor, great on baroque.

[EMIIIIIIIINEMU]

i can imagine angels flying around…so beautiful!

[murakamisadako]

O.O amazing

[tairadaden]

天使のような歌声

[NonaL707]

his singing is so accurate, i wish i can do that, but i would awkwardly get into the song at times XD

[JorgeAugustoPaulo]

The singer is exceptional. His voice and interpretation are fabulouse. It's a pitty that the video has so bad imagem and sound quality. Are there better quality videos of this singer? If there are, I would be grateful to receive them.

[Bobbi404]

What an amazing and God given talent! 

[xxryroluvxx]

Counter Tenors for the win!

[vmtr24]

muy buena vozz

[dokomademotuduku]

びせえええええええええええええええい！！！

[team5zgen]

WOW~ he's got an amazing voice like an angel, His music makes you feel like your at "Rivendell" from the movie " Lord Of The Ring: Fellowship Of The Ring"..!

[thomasey2]

beautifull

[MsMuzzzzzzza]

Ombra mai fu

Di vegetabile

Cara ed amabile

Soave più.

[Guerosit]

Un talento raro, una tecnica perfetta, la scelta sublime dei diversi timbri di voce che si alternano ... l'anima rimane indifesa, le lacrime mi salgono agli occhi. che altro?

[vn00473077]

the voice of angel :X

[zoxEmoRoXasxoz]

I don't know how he does it, but I just don't damn care.

His voice is beautiful and he deserves to be forever remembered as an angel, fallen from Heaven.

But I got to admit, I didn't know it was a man singing when I just heard it alone.

[tobabydollhotmail]

this man sings with passion. his voice penetrates the body and begins to move it. every time i hear him, my chest begins to expand and the skin along my arms and neck tingle...while traveling up to my scalp. and for some reason my eyes begin to tear, as if in understanding ... as though all has cleared. by the end of the song, the clarity and brilliance eludes me, and i find myself perplexed. please post more mera, if possible. thank you for the video.

[lightawake]

his voice is so pure....just full of sensitivity and light...wow

[aeopmusic]

No testies. I can't think of another way.

[clemmati]

such a beautiful voice

[curi44]

Absolutely beautiful. Heavenly rendition. By the way: Does anybody know where the rendition of Janet Baker's Ombra Mai Fu went? It was here, but has dissappeared. I really miss it. She is a real mezzo, and her rendition is hard to live without

[curi44]

Absolutely beautiful. Heavenly rendition. By the way: Does anybody know where the rendition of Janet Baker's Ombra Mai Fu went? It was here, but has dissapeared. I really miss it. She is a real mezzo, and her rendition is hard to live without

[MarcheseCadmio88]

Now that I listen to this, I'm super-PROUD to be a student of Japanese!

米良様は素敵ですぅ！

[darknessdeathsycth]

@MarcheseCadmio88 Now listen to this; I'm super proud to have google translations! 私も同感！

[MrVinhi93]

Wow... he sings and behaves godly. ! ! !

[imeneperdido]

wonde

rful

[tixalldude]

just wonderful - this is "magic" at its best. and this was written for counter tenors and nothing else! I cannot sing - I would sound like a drowned frog but this makes me weep it is so beautiful and so full of passion and life and sadness.

[ecamilo762]

For me, THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTER-TENOR VOICE IN THE WORLD PERIOD. LISTEN TO HIS CD "ROMANCE" or "THE BEST OF YOSHIKAZU MERA" ( both available in Amazon.com) AND YOU WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO HEAVENS! I HAVE LISTENED TO " ROMANCE" SO MANY TIMES, BUT ALWAYS FIND IT AS STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL AS THE FIRST TIME!. Unfortunately the sound quality of this beautiful vid is not up to the high standards that such a voice deserves.

[twilightlebeau]

its kind of like, ...wait for it... wait for it... at the beginning and then your jaw drops suddenly lol

[tixalldude]

this is just stunning - anyone who makes silly and disparaging remarks are just jealous that they cannot sing like this! What a joy this man is and what a voice!!!!!

[Skydree]

Wow, this might be the best counter-tenor I have ever heard. Very beautiful rendition!

[belly8900]

BEAUTIFUL!

[vn00473077]

A beautiful sopanist single , i love the voice of him ^^

[susuemikado]

Yoshikazu is simply a wonderful wonderful Singer. An Opera should be written especially for him. He could play a Nightingale or a Woodthrush or something lovely like that.

[nhlredwingsfan]

utsukushii koe

[Lilianalizlayla20]

awesome

[vancanman2]

I wish I could get this or anything else by Mera on CD, but I can't find it anywhere.

[2010mackd]

Ｙｏｕ　ｃａｎ　ｆｉｎｄ　meny Mera"s CD in ａｍａｚｏｎ．

[oakwoodbank]

Always a favourite, a beautiful rendition, what a wonderful voice.

[serenaluce]

It's very beautiful, of course. But I don't think it's the very best version. There are so many splendid interpretations of Ombra mai fu. It's one of them. I still prefer interpretations of Spanos, Kowalski, Taylor, Lesne, Bowman and Scholl. And also one tenor's version - Wunderlich's.

[asherhawke]

I like this, but he does a great version of Beauty and the Beast of all things, which was the first thing I heard from him. It is on his Christmas album....along with When you wish upon a star....they are quite good

[JaeChoi94]

hes a guy? damn i was way off --

[silversan456]

wonderful voice

[volasemprealto]

Five stars for you Wonderful

[androphore]

Je peux écouter cette version mille fois de suite.

Elle est splendide et je remercie Youtube pour sa contribution à répandre la culture aux quatre coins du monde.

Yoshikazu Mera est-il un ange ?

Bravo.

André

[dodi132]

SO beautiful!!!!!

[droi74]

Most natural countertenor voice.

[thebalox2003]

male soprano..there's no falsetto

[us04adda]

no, he's not a sopranist, he IS a countertenor..

[RamirRMA]

hmmmm.... right.

[Asaki44]

It makes my mother cry ! well I almost cry too XD. Serously, he is just one of the best contr tenor ever.

[eduardoromera]

I believe that it has an impressive voice, in addition to beautiful. Few ones sing this aria as this countertenor. The bravest Yoshikazu Mera.

[charliegirl6]

Graceful ^^

[Ray1166]

esta castrao

[LKJ72]

just wonderful. it is a blessing to hear a countertenor who truly can sing

[stevecraid]

Incredible, a voice from heaven...

I wish I sang that clearly... check out my Baritone version! ;)

[nonsonoimmaginario]

イスラエルで同じような声の持ち主David、

[wgrealish]

Sensational!

Will Grealish uk

[waclawa1]

Amazing

[Fishroads]

he looks like an elf

[Nyhama]

he's not even 5 foot...

[AuoHeminA]

T_T i am moved by his voice

[Scony1993]

he had a great voice. sorry for my bad english

[kloun458]

The words are useless to discribe this beautiful voice.I just want to listen him again and again.

[shin21th]

참.... 고난을 이긴 사람이군요. 이분 스토리도 보았는데 말은 이해 할수 없지만 보면 다 알수 있는 이야기 더군요. 승리자 입니다.

[kundelbury14]

IMO the best version of "Ombra...". Second place: Andreas Scholl.

[ruttergod]

agree... I was just telling my wife to search for Andreas Scholl as this started to play and then I was like, 'nevermind'...

[abeleveh]

El alma se estremece sin necesidad de la esperanza. Handel nos llega con el gran Mera. Somos afortunados por ser capaces de entretejer en nuestro interior tanta sublimidad.

[quietdepths]

I am not faulting Handel,Im criticising the

hideous rendition performed by Yoshikazu Mera.

[zairitasexybaby]

your choice of adjectives leaves a lot to be desired. In other words you are an imbecile. Much as I prefer true tenors especially Gigly's version I can appreciate others and give fair credit when due. Mr mera's singing was surprisingly beautiful

[quietdepths]

too feminine in sound and look

[pathWithHeart]

Kindly refrain from making your limitations so candidly known to everybody. This is sublime, otherworldy music. And that is all that matters.

[Tagapinasako]

I like apples...

[Sunduc]

I want CDs with this man singing! Please recommend his best.

[tiffenakou]

Since youtube doesn't allow posting URLs you might search "Yoshikazu Mera" in amazon or any online vendors. I think this song is in the "Romance" CD.

[jkortbein]

lindo!!!!!!!!!1

[Tagapinasako]

A singing Hobbit! YAY!

[peterdewitt]

This is so beautiful. His voice is so dignified... and so is the music.

[flute1982]

incredible well trained counter tenor.

[sweetviolet1000]

He is indeed a gifted counter tenor.  His voice is so transparent and angelic!

[lardhat]

My good God... I'm speechless...

But my fingers are not, so i write.

Amazing!

[kyung1104]

Really Really beautiful voice

I Love Yoshikazu ~

come to korea

[thebalox2003]

His voice is awesome

[reggaeton22m]

wow iam impressed

[jkwleung]

I don't know what to say, his voice captured my soul. This voice must have sent from up above - a voice of angel.

[genesisofpain]

my god, it's like an angel singing right to you. His voice is so chillingly beautiful. I hope there is a cd out for him cause im gonna buy it.

[ics1225ics]

the real count tenor best of our planet

[silverthorn1]

whats the freakin name of this song.

[yomeroyomero]

Ombra mai fu!

[collectkit]

Largo from Xerxes, by Handel

[Bellllla19]

It's a maaaaaaaan????????I alway thought this person is a woman!!! ohhhhhhhhh XDXD it's funny!!^^

[Epax2035]

His voice is otherworldly. Aethereal... I feel special when I listen to it.

May his talent continue to inspire people.

[vilazul]

Sublime voice but it lacks the own baroquisme of this composition.

It is, really, a version more new-romantic than baroque of this piece...I agree with "eurypheus" but never i will call as "kitcsh"

[eurypheus]

Hello World,

what is this? What is the reason to sing this wonderful aria from Händel in that manner? Of course a voice, but I can't believe this pathos. This is absolutly "Kitsch". Nothing to do with the intention of this piece of music.

[eurypheus]

Ok, sorry! The sound of his voice is superb, but the whole performance. This is an opera aria. What is the intention of such a video? Please, folks help me to find the answer.

[yomeroyomero]

What is the purpose of this video? to try to help the ignorant enjoy the treasures of a great period, even if to do that they need to deform it into what is acceptable.

The fact is, had they never done that, Handels operas would have never become economically feasible, nobody would have invested in more faithful sounding presentations, and you would have never seen the difference.

[Sobekneferu]

How can you get any more kitsch than singing a love song to a tree in the first place?

[MarcyBochum]

I agree. It is very well sung... but as far as I know meens "Ombra mai fu di vegetabile cara ed amabile soave più." something like "Never was the shadow of a beloved tree more lovely."

And the 'pathos' does not fit the meaning of the song, a praise of the sycamore.

[camilo1862]

I reckon Farinelli was pretty 'kitsch' in his day - but none the worse for it. Relax and enjoy this lad's voice for what it is, and don't worry too much about the authenticity of a falsetto Persian King singing a love song to a plane tree ....

[Bachsoboe]

Super!

He is huge in Japan, and has sung Bach cantatas [available on the BIS label] He now sings pop music!

Our loss is their gain.

[jeremyrain98]

Lol I can believe this is a guy. I am so death. anyway, he has an amazing voice.

[royalexile]

very angelic! But the outfit is too dracula spinster-esque...

[ragnarkisten]

oh god. is voice is just divine. Tears came to my eyes. The best countertenor i have ever heard.

[wwwartonlinebe]

very nice voice !

[gambler6]

Amazing!!! I admire him so much!

[jamesoboe]

Just love this artist's voice. True, there are many fine countertenors out there who also achieve greatness, (Adreas Scholl and Daniel Taylor being obvious choices; David Daniels is amazing, also, but too much non-stop vibrato!), yet, Mera has such incredible, natural beauty in his voice.

[saigon30]

the beginning of this song, Mera's voice is soo beautiful, it's chilling, miss thang better work

[saigon30]

is this bitch castrated? her voice is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! work it honey!

[us04adda]

It's a He!! Yoshikazu Mera - countertenor!

[jeremyrain98]

let me correct a little bit, actually it's "his voice" not "hers"....

[Mosskat55]

Sublime.

[coeurvaillant]

I was not familiar with Mera before this -- and, yes, the idea of a Scholl-Mera collaboration on Pergalesi's Stabat Mater is fascinating. Gorgeous, full and pure.

[hanzun]

nice girl.... :B

[PollyVonAcracker]

Det här är Mera än vackert.

[rinaldo911]

please try to concentrate on your voice and not on the stage as the actual libretto will lead to dramatic perfection. be careful with the "piu" as it messes the da capo ending. it ends softly sounding something like french accent. in reality, it should sound more open and long. your voice is like real castrato singing coming from heaven. i am very impessed! come to greece!!

[antolintinez]

Yes, his interpretation is softer than others. Well, I suppose that some variations are ok. Is nice version as well.

[flierboy90]

wow

[morningmoon]

Wow... I can't believe how many ppl think that Mera Yoshikazu is a woman.... *sigh*. He's got such an angelic voice, especially in Mononoke Hime. Glorious. Thx for posting this.

[mariogorga]

Why keep calling HIM! HER !!!,this japanese Counter-tenor is a product of almost Pop standards,this vesion sounds to artificial a long way from Handel.Give Kowalski or Daniels any day.

[ANataliaS]

...nice voice....beautiful...

[fairyboy05]

im looking of de video ombra mai fu of andreas scholl

ahyone got this?

[Jairdan]

Andreas Scholl is -in my opinion- the greatest Counter-tenor, but I like Yoshikazu Mera's "ombra mai fu" as well..His voice is "softer" less "technical" and just really nice...Thanks!

[homousios]

a gorgeous voice true but I like the countertenor voice Andreas Scholl, He does a gorgeous performance of Vivaldi.s "Stabat Mater"

[Nikhil0]

. Also, thanks to microphones, her tone is soft and the microphone is SO close to her mouth during the recording (except for the last note "Piu" when she takes a step back to give the impression of a decrescendo). If she learned to support her tone, she could actually create some vibrancy and then decrescendo. That last vowel on the "Piu" was a German umlaut U (wtf?).

[winglessdreams]

Umm.. just so you know, that's a Japanese man.

[Nikhil0]

However, if we were to ignore the video and listen to her sing, nothing amazes me either. Her use, or lack thereof, of vibrato seems to be the product of pop music (as are her bountiful uses of the "scoop"). If Sylvia McNair is the master of straight tones, this soprano is tasteless overkill.

[xgianpatrick]

Anyone else hear a scoop? I don't. Are you sure that's what you mean? Renee Fleming scoops; this guy does not, at least not here.

[Grandtenore]

Yeah i hear it on both on the second syllable of 'soave' and on the word 'piu' which he also croons. I still love it though.

[morindhe]

Tsk tsk. Why so overly critical? I think Mera - a he - has a gorgeous instrument. He sings without vibrato because that is historically correct.

[aguacun]

Through a Ouija some castratti told to some one that is correct singing without vibrato! :)

[brendanemig]

it's definetely singing with some vibrato... and historically no one knows when vibrato really became "correct" we know that vibrato is a natural occurance, back in the day a leaner sound was desired, when bigger venues came about, the "lean" sound just didn't cut it so people started singing more freely, i.e. with lots of vibrato, this is a really beautiful rendition, straighter sounds aren't bad, just bad when they're done wrong

[Nikhil0]

Most importantly, she needs to stop shaving her pits and grow some balls like David Daniels, because counter-tenorINOs are an insult to society, men and music. If you haven't already listened to this video, spare yourself and listen to David Daniels.

[actionsrlouder]

Whoever you are, stop criticizing singers... Can you sing???? STOP TALKING SHITTT!

[draculajp]

Ombra mai fu...my favorite. Thank you. He is something else!

[hermanopaz]

What a beautiful voice! T_T

[DemonTaoist]

Also, what is he wearing?

So gorgeous but not really convincing as... well, male.

[GeminiAmbience]

Actually it's perfect for a castrati role. You need to remember the artifice which the role was based upon. The castrato was not considered male or female; but a more "otherworldly" persona. That's why many of the roles were heroic or based upon mythic themes.

I'd love to hear Mera and Andreas Scholl perform Pergolesi's Stabat Mater...that would be amazing.

[gehaktmolen]

Wow, nice voice! That high note, so light. Beautifull

[Cordanium]

Mera singt im Countertenorregister mit müheloser Freiheit die wir noch nie erlebten,seine Stimme ist einzigartig,ausdrucksvoll,sie unterscheidet sich von allem was wir je in dieser Stimmlage gehört haben,wunderschön!

[Oikuvxwbos]

Absutely gorgeous!!! Best sopranist ever!!!

[LinnDamnit]

he's a fucking counter tenor! ^^

[Barbabeppo]

Utterly amazing. More of this please! :)

[ethelwolfe]

It's head voice but it sounds like a female soprano. He doesn't have that hooty sound like a normal falsettist.

[GeminiAmbience]

I'm just glad to see more men stepping up to the role of counter-tenor. When I was a vocal performance major in 1991 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the faculty wouldn't recognize it as a "natural voice" and wouldn't allow me to study the pedagogy. So I left the program and studied privately.

His voice is absolutely gorgeous. Sounds like his voice never changed...can that be confirmed or is he singing in head voice?

[funkyspacemonkey]

the best Ombra mai fu i have ever heard.

[funkyspacemonkey]

sugoi!this is the best ombra mai fu i have ever heard.please post more of him.

[senshuraku]

yeah, i agree he has a beautiful voice, but his gestures r kinda overacting... and too feminine lol

but i love his voice anyways

[ethelwolfe]

Mera is so gay but I don't care. He has such a beautiful voice.

[Zerlina12]

Anybody knows what he is doing now? mr Mera?

[jgrey]

breath taking.

[fiesco]

I dont like playback versions, but he´s still great, congratulations but post something alive!

[nahashi]

Thanks for your comment ^^ yes, his voice is really incredible.

[JapaneseMagnolia]

the ease of Mera's line is incredible