Basses are not typically the superstars of the operatic world, but Samuel Ramey is an exception to that rule. Though his voice does not have the sonority of a Nicolai Ghiaurov or a Boris Christoff, his instrument is remarkable for its easy flexibility -- dealing effortlessly with long runs, ornaments, and leaps -- and its brilliant intensity. His stage presence (particularly when portraying "devil" figures) is vivid and lively, aided by anRead more attractive physique and a dancer-like grace. He and the various stage directors have tended to emphasize these aspects, giving rise to the comment that "Ramey's Mefistofele has everything one could desire, except possibly a shirt."
While he was attending Kansas State University, Ramey's interest in operatic music was awakened when a friend suggested that he audition for a summer program at Colorado's Central City Opera. He was accepted and got to sing in the chorus for two productions. Soon after, he began to study avidly, first at Wichita State University and later in New York with Armen Boyajian; he made his professional debut in 1973 as Zuniga in Bizet's Carmen at the New York City Opera. His Glyndebourne debut was in 1976 as Figaro in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.
A 1980 performance of Rossini's Semiramide at Aix-en-Provence, opposite Monserrat Caballé and Marilyn Horne, made him an overnight sensation. For critics and audience alike, this new bass with the ideal power and agility was a welcome surprise. His La Scala debut came the next year as Mozart's Figaro, followed by his Covent Garden debut in 1982, in the same role. In 1984, he made his Metropolitan debut as Argante in Rinaldo. He has been a regular at the Pesaro Rossini Festival. Many Rossini bass roles had become "character parts" over the years -- performed more in parlando than actually sung (partly for comedy, partly because of the extreme difficulty of the roles) -- and Ramey determined to sing these as written. His instinctive gift for comedy without clownishness has served him well in these parts, as well as in his various diabolical roles, most of which contain a good deal of sardonic humor. He performs arias from his darker roles in his "Date with the Devil" concerts.
Later in his career, as his voice became darker and weightier, Ramey slowly began to drop the florid Rossini and Handel roles in favor of the heavier Verdi roles, such as King Philip in Don Carlo, Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, and even Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov. He has also performed twentieth century repertoire widely, especially noted for his Reverend Olin Blitch in Floyd's Susannah and Nick Shadow in Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress.
Ramey is the most recorded bass in history, with dozens of recordings to his credit. These range from nearly all of his operatic roles to solo recordings of arias and song, and even some musical theater. He has appeared on the TV series Live from Lincoln Center and in TV and video recordings of many of his roles. Read less
Label: Warner Classics
Catalog: 660575
Release Date: 07/31/2012
Number of Discs: 3
Composer:
Georges Bizet
Performer:
Angela Gheorghiu,
Thomas Moser,
Samuel Ramey,
Nathalie Boissy
...
Conductor:
Giuseppe Sinopoli
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Bavarian State Orchestra,
Bavarian State Opera Chorus
Label: London/Decca Grand Opera Series
Catalog: 433854
Release Date: 05/25/2012
Number of Discs: 2
Composer:
Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Arthur Davies,
Matteo Manuguerra,
Samuel Ramey,
Franco Bonisolli
...
Conductor:
Richard Bonynge
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Welsh National Opera Orchestra,
Welsh National Opera Chorus
Recommendation
Label: Emi Classics
Catalog: 27375
Release Date: 05/22/2012
Number of Discs: 3
Composer:
Frederick Loewe,
Richard Rodgers,
Richard M. Sherman,
Cole Porter
...
Performer:
Jean Bayless,
Barbara Hendricks,
Kim Criswell,
Thomas Hampson
...
Conductor:
Simon Lee,
Robert Lowe,
Jonathan Tunick,
John McGlinn
...
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Abbey Road Ensemble
Label: Emi Classics
Catalog: 29087
Release Date: 04/03/2012
Number of Discs: 3
Composer:
Ambroise Thomas
Performer:
Denyce Graves,
Michel Trempont,
June Anderson,
Thomas Hampson
...
Conductor:
Antonio de Almeida
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Philharmonic Orchestra,
Ambrosian Singers
Recommendation
Label: Decca
Catalog: 001615902
Release Date: 11/21/2011
Number of Discs: 3
Composer:
Vincenzo Bellini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé,
Luciano Pavarotti,
Dame Joan Sutherland,
Samuel Ramey
...
Conductor:
Richard Bonynge
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Welsh National Opera Chorus,
Welsh National Opera Orchestra
Recommendation
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalog: 001606902
Release Date: 10/18/2011
Number of Discs: 10
Composer:
Anton Bruckner
Performer:
Yvonne Minton,
Jessye Norman,
Samuel Ramey,
David Rendall
...
Conductor:
Daniel Barenboim
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Recommendation
Label: Decca
Catalog: 001601659
Release Date: 09/27/2011
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Maria Guleghina,
Samuel Ramey,
Marina Poplavskaya,
Marcello Giordani
Conductor:
Andris Nelsons
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Recommendation
Label: Decca
Catalog: 001573509
Release Date: 07/12/2011
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Marina Poplavskaya,
Samuel Ramey,
Maria Guleghina,
Marcello Giordani
Conductor:
Andris Nelsons
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Recommendation
Label: Emi Classics
Catalog: 26980
Release Date: 06/21/2011
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Giuseppe Verdi,
Gioachino Rossini,
Giacomo Meyerbeer,
Gaetano Donizetti
...
Performer:
Samuel Ramey,
Gottfried Greiner,
Heinrich Weber
Conductor:
Jacques Delacôte
Label: Warner Classics
Catalog: 4676915
Release Date: 03/29/2011
Number of Discs: 3
Composer:
Charles Gounod
Performer:
Brigitte Fassbaender,
Cecilia Gasdia,
Jerry Hadley,
Samuel Ramey
...
Conductor:
Carlo Rizzi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Welsh National Opera Chorus,
Welsh National Opera Orchestra
Recommendation
Label: Apex
Catalog: 4677172
Release Date: 03/29/2011
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Domenico Cimarosa,
Gaetano Donizetti,
Vincenzo Bellini,
Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Samuel Ramey,
Thomas Hampson
Conductor:
Miguel Gómez-Martinez
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalog: 001515202
Release Date: 01/25/2011
Number of Discs: 26
Composer:
Georges Bizet,
Gaetano Donizetti,
Ruggero Leoncavallo,
Pietro Mascagni
...
Performer:
Geoffrey Pogson,
Jean Lainé,
Alicia Nafé,
Richard Amner
...
Conductor:
Claudio Abbado,
Ion Marin,
Georges Prętre,
Giuseppe Sinopoli
...
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra,
Ambrosian Singers,
Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra
...
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalog: 435865
Release Date: 12/17/2010
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Jennifer Larmore,
Michele Pertusi,
Octavio Arévalo,
John [english horn] Brown
...
Conductor:
Ion Marin
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Chamber Orchestra
Recommendation
Label: Warner Classics
Catalog: 31618
Release Date: 10/12/2010
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Angela Gheorghiu,
Marius Brenciu,
Samuel Ramey,
Roberto Alagna
...
Conductor:
Marco Armiliato
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Metropolitan Opera Chorus,
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Recommendation
Label: Sony
Catalog: 44556
Release Date: 10/01/2010
Number of Discs: 3
Composer:
Amilcare Ponchielli
Performer:
Gábor Kállay,
János Tóth,
Tamas Bátor,
Anne Gjevang
...
Conductor:
Giuseppe Patané
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Hungarian Opera Chorus,
Hungarian State Orchestra
Recommendation
Label: Philips
Catalog: 438502
Release Date: 08/12/2010
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Jacques Offenbach
Performer:
Cheryl Studer,
Francisco Araiza,
Anne Sofie von Otter,
Felicity Palmer
...
Conductor:
Jeffrey Tate
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Dresden State Opera Orchestra,
Leipzig Radio Chorus
Label: Warner Classics
Catalog: 4681380
Release Date: 06/15/2010
Number of Discs: 2
Composer:
Igor Stravinsky
Performer:
Dawn Upshaw,
Steven Cole,
Anne Collins,
Jerry Hadley
...
Conductor:
Kent Nagano
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lyon Opera Orchestra,
Lyon Opera Chorus
Recommendation
Label: Philips Baroque Classics
Catalog: 422490
Release Date: 05/13/2010
Number of Discs: 1
Composer:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Elly Ameling,
Samuel Ramey,
Aldo Baldwin,
Linda Finnie
Conductor:
Raymond Leppard
Orchestra/Ensemble:
English Chamber Orchestra