As Mignon in 1947	One of her great early successes, as Mignon	Triumph at La Scala, 1958	At La scala in 1958 with Ricciardi, Zeffirelli, Ratti, Gavazzeni, raimondi, Malaguti and Modesti.

Reviews

• October 1947 "She was wearing rags onstage, a diminutive figure who seemed crushed by the weight of some mysterious sorrow, and could have been once again the bit player we had seen so many times. But in her innermost being she was surely telling herself "Now or Never!" This was her big chance. and she did sing. She sang with the consuming sadness of a prima donna who for a life-time had been denied her importance; she sang with the dignity of a Queen, returning form unjust exile to a throne that was rightfully hers." Teodoro Celli, Oggi.
• January 1958  "the luxurious depths of the main character, whose bravura expressed itself in vocal exploits, bursts of bel canto and virtuoso displays of the most elegant and controlled sort. Simionato's voice is string and velvety at the same time, so that she is able to pass with the greatest of ease from the demands of Amneris to the very different ones of Mignon, never insensitive to the contrasting stylistic requirements of each. On the contrary, between her costume and gestures she has been able to confer a rustic freshness to her character, stimulating a marvellous adolescence." L'Italia, January 23, 1958.
• January 1958 "[Simionato was]...not just excellent, sublime!" Corriere della Serra, January 23, 1958.

Anecdotes

• The 1947 La Scala Mignon crowned Simionato as a major international artist. Not only were the critics and audience in rapture but the theatres staff; stage hands, dressmakers, electricians; were moved to tears by her spectacular interpretation. After her act II aria the performance was interrupted with wild applause in excess of eight full minutes. Remarkably this overwhelming reception was directed to an empty stage, for at La Scala taking bows during acts was not allowed, and the ever humble Simionato didn't dream of breaking this rule. Maestro Guarnieri had to go backstage to reprimand her as he could not continue the performance with such unyielding applause. The rules of the house no longer applied to her, she had risen above them.
• Simionato recalls this unqualified conquest "I have always felt like Mignon, a little girl who had been abducted, travelled around the world, dancing even though she was ashamed of herself since they beat her. I was down and out and had to stand up for myself; it's strange, I can't even remember studying the part...I needed no cues...nobody prompted me. I knew when I had to go out, when I had to sing - It all came to me quite naturally. I still think back today and can not understand how I did it"
• In Mexico City in 1949, Simionato had such an enormous success in the role of Mignon that it was necessary to add an extra performance to the schedule to satisfy the public's demand to see this great artist who commanded so much attention in the role.
• The January 1958 La Scala Mignon's marked the tenth anniversary of her original triumph in the role at the theatre. Critics agreed that the night was a spectacular triumph. Simionato marked the occasion by presenting her friends and colleagues with gold medallions as an appreciation for their support of her career. Her signature graced on side, while the other was marked wit he notes of the great aria "Non cinosci il bel suol"