This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
Samuel Ramey: Bad-Guy Bass Of Opera
Listen
5:04
With a resonant bass voice and a muscular physique, Samuel Ramey was one of the greatest stars of the international opera circuit in his prime. He specialized in wicked characters: Don Giovanni, Faust, Mephistopheles.
"I've certainly had a lot of fun over my career playing bad guys," Ramey says.
Ramey recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of his Metropolitan Opera debut. Looking back on his career, he likes to reminisce about his roles, the weathering of his voice and even his gig on Sesame Street, which, with the advent of YouTube, can be viewed many times over by his curious 6-year-old son.
"For Boito's opera Mefistofele, I play the devil, basically," Ramey says. "And my son seems to like those things the best. I'm in a red costume, and my hair is red, and when he sees that, he calls me 'Red Daddy.' "
For years, Ramey's bread and butter, and his great love, has been singing the lecherous title role in Mozart's Don Giovanni.
"When I began, Don Giovanni was a role I dreamed of doing," Ramey says. "The singers that I admired, my idols, were famous Don Giovannis — Ezio Pinza, Cesare Sieppi. I think one of my favorite scenes in Don Giovanni is the "Champagne Aria." In my good days, I really felt I sang that aria as well as anybody."
Ramey's career is still in full swing, although he has left a few roles behind. He says nobody wants to see a 67-year-old Don Giovannni. Also, few opera stars his age still employ a vocal coach, something Ramey says is essential.
Sponsored message
"Singers can't really hear themselves that well," Ramey says. "A singer's voice is just like an automobile: You have to have somebody take it in for a 20,000-mile checkup.
"My teacher, when I see him now, we just try to work on things to try to keep the voice from sounding the age that it is," Ramey says. "I just try to bring out what's left of the youth in the voice."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. 9(MDA1OTI3MjQ5MDEyODUwMTE2MzM1YzNmZA004))
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
