Find Music / Performers / Samuel Ramey

Samuel Ramey

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Biography

Born: March 28, 1942; USA

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 an Read 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

Featured Samuel Ramey CDs & DVDs:

Bellini: Norma / Sutherland, Caballé, Pavarotti, Ramey

Release Date: 10/25/1990 Label: Decca
Catalog: 414476 Number of Discs: 3

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Handel: Messiah / Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey, Davis

Release Date: 10/25/1990 Label: Emi Classics
Catalog: 49027 Number of Discs: 2

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Verdi: Don Carlo / Muti, Pavarotti, Dessi, Ramey, Coni

Release Date: 08/29/2006 Label: Emi Classics
Catalog: 58631 Number of Discs: 3

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Mozart: Don Giovanni / Muti, Shimmell, Ramey, Studer, Vaness

Release Date: 10/02/2007 Label: Warner Classics
Catalog: 00850 Number of Discs: 3

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Browse 26-50 of 170 Available Recordings

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26.

Bruckner: 10 Symphonies / Barenboim, Chicago SO [10-CD Collector's Edition]

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
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27.

Puccini: Turandot / Nelsons, Guleghina, Poplavskaya, Ramey, Metropolitan Opera [blu-ray]

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
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28.

Verdi: Rigoletto Highlights / Rudel, Sills, Milnes, Kraus, dunn, Ramey

Label: Warner Classics Catalog: 94888 Release Date: 09/13/2011 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Performer: Mignon Dunn, Sherrill Milnes, Alfredo Kraus, Beverly Sills ...
Conductor: Julius Rudel
Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra, Ambrosian Chorus

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29.

Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor / Marin, Studer, Domingo, Pons, Larmore

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 001572202 Release Date: 07/12/2011 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Cheryl Studer, Placido Domingo, Juan Pons, Samuel Ramey ...
Conductor: Ion Marin
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera Chorus
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30.

Offenbach: Tales Of Hoffmann / Tate, Norman, Araiza, Studer, Ramey

Label: Decca Catalog: 001572502 Release Date: 07/12/2011 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: Jacques Offenbach
Performer: Jessye Norman, Cheryl Studer, Eva Lind, Anne Sofie von Otter ...
Conductor: Jeffrey Tate
Orchestra/Ensemble: Leipzig Radio Chorus, Dresden State Opera Orchestra

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31.

Puccini: Turandot / Nelsons, Guleghina, Poplavskaya, Ramey, Metropolitan Opera

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
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32.

Operatic Arias / Samuel Ramey

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

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33.

Puccini: La Boheme (Highlights) / Pappano, Alagna, Vaduva, Hampson, Swenson, Ramey, Philharmonia

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 94819 Release Date: 06/21/2011 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Performer: Thomas Hampson, Roberto Alagna, Leontina Vaduva, Ruth Ann Swenson ...
Conductor: Antonio Pappano
Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra

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34.

Gounod: Faust / Rizzi, Ramey, Mentzer, Agache, Fassbaender

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
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35.

Operatic Duets For Baritone & Bass / Hampson, Ramey

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

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36.

Rossini: Il Barbiere Di Siviglia / Lopez-Coboz, Hagegard, Frittoli, Ramey, Malmberg, Lausanne Chamber Orchestra

Label: Warner Classics Catalog: 4677005 Release Date: 03/29/2011 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Performer: Barbara Frittoli, Urban Malmberg, Leonard Graus, Håkan Hagegård ...
Conductor: Jesús Lopez-Cobos
Orchestra/Ensemble: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, Geneva Grand Theatre Chorus

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37.

Handel: Messiah / Davis, Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 18718 Release Date: 03/08/2011 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Samuel Ramey, Florence Quivar, Kathleen Battle, John Aler
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
Orchestra/Ensemble: Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Elmer Iseler Singers

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38.

Placido Domingo - The Opera Collection [26-CD Set]

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 Prêtre, Giuseppe Sinopoli ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, Ambrosian Singers, Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra ...

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39.

Rossini: Il Signor Bruschino / Marin, Battle, Ramey

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 435865 Release Date: 12/18/2010 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
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40.

James Levine - Celebrating 40 Years At The Met [32 CD Set]

Label: Decca Catalog: 1135701354 Release Date: 12/07/2010 Number of Discs: 32
Composer: Alban Berg, Hector Berlioz, Claude Debussy, John Harbison ...
Performer: David Kuebler, James Courtney, Hanna Schwarz, Clifton Forbis ...
Conductor: James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Chorus

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41.

Puccini: Tosca Highlights / Freni, Domingo, Ramey, Terfel, Sinopoli

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 437547 Release Date: 12/06/2010 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Performer: Angelo Veccia, Bryn Terfel, Placido Domingo, Mirella Freni ...
Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Opera House Covent Garden Chorus
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42.

Bernstein: Theatre Works

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 001476602 Release Date: 10/19/2010 Number of Discs: 7
Composer: Leonard Bernstein
Performer: Tyne Daly, Cleo Laine, Samuel Ramey, Frederica Von Stade ...
Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Bernstein, Kent Nagano
Orchestra/Ensemble: London Symphony Orchestra, London Voices, London Symphony Chorus ...
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43.

Puccini: La Rondine / Gheorghiu, Alagna, Metropolitan Opera

Label: Emi 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
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44.

Ponchielli: La Gioconda / Marton, Ramey, Patane

Label: Sony Catalog: 44556 Release Date: 10/03/2010 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
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45.

Offenbach: Les contes d'Hoffmann Highlights / Tate, Norman

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

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46.

Donizetti: Lucia Di Lammermoor / Caballe, Carreras, Ramey

Label: Philips Catalog: 426563 Release Date: 07/13/2010 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Performer: Vincente Sardinero, Claes H. Ahnsjö, Ann Murray, Montserrat Caballé ...
Conductor: Jesús Lopez-Cobos
Orchestra/Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra
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47.

Metropolitan Opera Gala 1991 - 25th Anniversary At Lincoln Center

Label: Deutsche Grammophon Catalog: 001431609 Release Date: 06/22/2010 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Giacomo Puccini, Francesco Cilèa, Mitchell Leigh, Gaetano Donizetti ...
Performer: Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Mirella Freni, Samuel Ramey ...
Conductor: James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble: Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Chorus
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48.

Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress / Nagano, L’opera De Lyon

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
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49.

Heroes & Villains - Opera's Leading Men

Label: Decca Catalog: 001433902 Release Date: 06/01/2010 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Giacomo Puccini, Amilcare Ponchielli, Georges Bizet, Jules Massenet ...
Performer: Carlo Bergonzi, Rolando Villazón, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Luciano Pavarotti ...
Conductor: Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Daniele Callegari, Robin Stapleton, Sir Colin Davis ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Rome Santa Cecilia Academy Orchestra, Verdi Grand Symphonic Orchestra Milan, National Philharmonic Orchestra ...

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50.

Favourite Rossini Arias / Ricciarelli, Horne, Baltsa, Ramey

Label: Sony Catalog: 48399 Release Date: 05/27/2010 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Gioachino Rossini
Performer: Samuel Ramey, Katia Ricciarelli, Lucia Valentini-Terrani, Enzo Dara ...
Conductor: Riccardo Chailly, Gianluigi Gelmetti, Gabriele Ferro, Ion Marin ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Milan Teatro alla Scala Orchestra, Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Turin, Cappella Coloniensis ...

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