Opera Star Samuel Ramey on InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse

Legendary operatic bass Samuel Ramey sits down with Ernie to talk about some of the roles that made him famous, the importance of arts education, and the nuances of live performance compared to working in a recording studio. Episodes of InnerVIEWS with Ernie Manouse are available on DVD at houstonpbs.org.

[@st.eustacechurch4123]

What a sincere, honest and lovely man...blessed with a divine voice. Great to see this interview.

[@E19103]

This interviewer, Ernie Manouse, asks such intelligent questions! He phrases them without pushing for an answer he expects. Ramey is wonderfully candid, very plain-spoken, sincere.

[@nightowl6260]

I attended a recital by Ramey years ago at Rosary College (now Dominican University). His singing catapulted my love of vocal music and opera.

[@sopranosd]

Dang, that speaking voice! Visions of women melting every time he says their names.

[@ApologeticaHispanista]

The rol of Samuel ramey as don giovanni was EPIC!

[@wotan10950]

I saw him in so many roles, even some small parts when he was new at the New York City Opera. Figaro, Mefistofele, Argante, Blitch. And with partners like Sills, Sutherland, Horne. That voice was like a grand organ, and yet he had extraordinary flexibility for his Rossini roles.

[@louisvaccaro5865]

love his rendition of old man river, he sang it best for me.

[@PeterBarber]

his speaking voice...

[@Mastermind-tx9ob]

Peter Barber Samuel Ramey's speaking voice is so amazing. His deep voice is clear and resonant. I love his personality, Samuel is humble, respectful, it's fun to converse with him etc. I wish that I could meet him in person someday.

[@ebonylover539]

@@Mastermind-tx9ob Reminds me of Richard Sterban very much, like one-to-one (regarding his way of speaking).

[@vitormrmr]

@@ebonylover539 Sterban has a booming voice, otherwise Ramey's voice is deep but lacks booms,booms.

[@tomgeydan]

This interview may be seen as a brief self-portrait of the great bass and accomplished artist. He is very believable as a sincere and utterly uncontrived man - and a wonderful human being. Thank you!

[@stevehinnenkamp5625]

Sam Ramey may be the devil onstage, but off-stage he is a wonderful person with heart and soul. When he sings his voice sends vibrations and I forget the humdrum of every day life. Sam makes opera truly grand.

[@Marlene55M]

Love to hear him sing, love to hear him speak. I think I would even listen to him reciting the Manhattan phone book with music by Alban Berg :)

[@NancyDelain]

I've been a fan of Sam Ramey's since the late 1970s/early 1980s; I saw his Mefistofele (Boito) on Halloween one year with the NYCO's young people's group, the now-defunct Camerata; Mr. Ramey came to dinner with us after the performance; he was as delightful then as he comes across in this video. I'd LOVE to see him in "Man of La Mancha"!! (that's a hint, Broadway Producers...)

[@eduardobraivein8496]

He was actually 65 at the time of this interview: he was born in 1942 and this interview is from 2007.

[@flanplan5903]

Huh…I thought he was 55 at least!

[@manlioerta7221]

Samuel Ramey è il mio idolo ; per me è il più grande basso che abbia avuto il melodramma.Grazie per le meravigliose interpretazioni . Ricordo un meraviglioso Attila verdiano ( Mentre gonfiarsi l'anima) insuperato e , credo insuperabile. Ricordo anche un meraviglioso Don Carlo /Ella giammai m'amò) , incredibilmente musicale e appassionato . Grazie Samuel Ramey per le gran di emozioni provate.

[@kevinbrennan2004]

A very humble and talented man.

[@ahogbin2644]

A very sympathetic interview. I was lucky enough to see his Figaro, Assur, Mephistopheles, Basilio and Hoffman villains and a few concerts too when he was in his absolute prime in London. I think he was the greatest bass I heard along with Ghiaurov. Opulent tone with superb coloratura. He was a fine actor too.

[@m.antoniosims342]

As one who has always appreciated sopranos, mezzo sopranos, tenors and counter tenors more so than singers with significantly lower range, I find Samual Ramey absolutely amazing. His composure and graciousness, along with his physical presence absolutely contribute to his allure. This is the first bass baritone that I really like!!

[@jamesmiller6244]

Just Brilliant

[@ArielleDomantay]

"Lalalala lalalala, cut the wood to light the fire"

[@MsOal]

Where does that come from?

[@joshbarela7669]

MsOal it's from a cartoon miniseries called Over the Garden Wall. He voices the character "The Beast". He also sings The Beasts theme: Come Wayward Souls, which is a great song

[@noooooooammmmmm]

Excellent interview to an excellent singer!

[@stchoukine]

Fantastic interview,it was very important to me to know how a great artist thinks outside the stages performance! Great artist and great person! Thank you

[@wotan10950]

I’ve seen literally hundreds of opera performances, but the greatest one I’ve seen was with Ramey, Johanna Meier, and Enrico diGiuseppe of Boito’s Mefistofele at the NYC Opera. Boito is NOT my favorite composer, Mefistofele is not my favorite opera, and the singers - all great artists - weren’t my favorites either (sorry, Sam!). But the singing/orchestra/sets/costumes, and Ramey’s overwhelming presence - it just turned out to be one of those nights where the roof almost caved in! A roar of ovation I’d never heard before; and I was at Birgit Nilsson’s comeback concert, Sutherland & Pavarotti together. But this was beyond the beyond.

[@magicmonkichi]

Great interview I love listening to Ramey speak/sing. He's jus so old school romantic, an that voice...yumm~

[@helloantonio]

What a thoughtful interview. I grew up on rock 'n roll and Marilyn Manson. So, this interview makes me wonder how the hell I ever acquired a taste for opera. As for the Mephistopheles', I have to admit that I'm partial to Gounod's version. All the characters seem a little more interesting in Faust, even Valentine (who's aria was written in right before it was premiered in english). I wish there was a role for Ramey in 21st century opera. That would just be plain interesting.

[@dreinornen]

Sam just mentioned Peter Gelb at the Met, who has been there only since 2006. That makes Sam at least at 64!

[@sevenseasonsofbrown]

I feel bad that I only came here to hear what his voice sounded like because of Over the Garden Wall....IT'S THE BEAST!!!

[@samhain2463]

You're not alone tho 😂

[@CHIEFS8214]

A classmate of my older sister. Always a different voice. "Home on the Range" at a performance in Century II in Wichita made everyone smile and sing along. A long, long ways from Colby KS

[@Anton_the_Vampire]

I'm so glad I found this! I've never had the chance to see a live Opera, & certainly not with Mr. Ramey. I have seen a clip of him and Kurt Moll though, which was amazing! Too great, but different, voices together. :) This interview is amazing. So glad I watched it.

[@cadecannon159]

And Kurt Moll had the most amazing speaking voice......it was unreal

[@Anton_the_Vampire]

@@cadecannon159 yes, to my ears almost a "German Christopher Lee", if you see what I mean? Beautiful to listen to.

[@rojp08]

This may have been the best interview I've ever seen. No disrespect to others but this was one absolutely terrific piece of journalism. Bravo!!!

[@BaroneVitellioScarpia1]

He is the greatest interpreter of Assur ever.

[@matthewschincariol4619]

Samuel Ramey sounds a LOT like James Earl Jones!

[@dennis7511]

Great interview.

[@mrJohnDesiderio]

Smart interviewer.

[@chrisbean]

Oh my God! What a nice low voice he has!

[@paoladatodi8626]

Buon compleanno!

[@MsSandtime]

HI! Samy.Lots of love see you soon.

[@fjfjrfjfjr]

Good guy.

[@Aussieroth7]

Not only would I love to see him as Javert in Les Miserables but if there was EVER to be a Legend of Zelda game with voice acting, he MUST be Ganondorf!

[@4the3dom]

Very constructive!

[@ElSalvador50]

great interview

[@RonnGiovanni]

Does anyone know how old he was when he had his met debut?

[@flanplan5903]

Well, he was born on March 28th, 1942, so by the time he made his Met debut in January of 1984, he was 41.

[@retgrimes]

And probably 10-12 years later than he should’ve. I suspect that was a reflection on management and not his talent!

[@TheSleepingSeer]

Imagine if his regular speaking voice was super high and tinny

[@johnblasiak607]

Great condition for a man who is 65 An Opera singer is an Athlete physically mentally and spiritually

[@MsSandtime]

He sure is asking him so many words..Poor Samy he should walk out.At the opera every body wants to see him and sign the program..You must see the line.There is a saying .We always have a hittler usher ,one of them its me.

[@IUDiva82]

RONNGIOVANNI...I believe he was 42

[@user-yp1er4ss4y]

65

[@MultiKamil97]

Samuel speaks an octave lower than the man interviewing him.

[@MultiKamil97]

@Barone Vitellio Scarpia More like a high tenor :D

[@blakeaustinbrooks]

How can he say it that way? Because he's stressing the correct syllable. He actually knows the language and you clearly do not.

[@MultiKamil97]

The difference between their voices haha

[@Pingaheimer]

Different people are blessed in different ways.

[@sopranosd]

Well, for me, the fact that he mispronounces "Boito" eclipses the rest of this interview. I cannot bear to listen to more. My life no longer has any meaning. I mean, he mispronounces a name! HOW CAN THE EARTH CONTINUE TO TURN ON ITS AXIS?!

[@misscameroon8062]

thou complainest too much,dear....

[@sopranosd]

If you don't know anything about humor, it is best you reply elsewhere.

[@TheLemonsims]

18:31, the answer lies in the willingness to diversify the artform and including demographics outside of white men and women.

[@Caruso_is_king]

What does that mean?

[@TheLemonsims]

@@Caruso_is_king It’s plain and simple my friend. Diversity is what makes art blossom.

[@Caruso_is_king]

@@TheLemonsims would never disagree with that:)