Ace
of
bass
World-famous opera singer Samuel Ramey appears at Wadsworth
tonight
By John Mangum
Elvis may be the king of rock ‘n’ roll. Paul may be the king of
big screens. But Samuel Ramey is the king of opera.
Ramey, a bass, ranks among the most renowned low-voice singers
of all time. His concert, opera and recital appearances invariably
meet with critical acclaim.
Add this to a list of recordings which rivals that of any other
bass in history in length and variety and the reasons for his
popularity become obvious. For Ramey, though, his success never
seemed inevitable.
During his youth in a small Kansas town, Ramey never became
familiar with opera. "I had no exposure to opera during my high
school years," Ramey explains.
Many people today experience opera through the weekly radio
broadcasts of New York’s Metropolitan Opera or by watching
performances on public television. Ramey did not encounter it
either way while he was growing up.
"We didn’t get the Met broadcasts," says Ramey. "We weren’t able
to get TV until I was midway through high school. That was more
than 30 years ago, and at that time, there wasn’t much to
watch."
Because of his unfamiliarity with opera, Ramey did not set out
to become a singer. Having been exposed to music in his home and
encouraged by his parents, Ramey chose at first to pursue music
education.
"When I first went to college to study music, I went with the
idea of becoming a teacher," says Ramey. "I was taking voice
lessons, and my voice teacher had me study an aria from ‘The
Marriage of Figaro.’
"He suggested that I go out and get a recording of it, so I went
out and bought one by Ezio Pinza," says Ramey. His choice seems
prophetic in retrospect.
Pinza, whom Ramey resembles in many ways, possessed a voice that
could sing bass roles at the Metropolitan Opera one night and turn
up on Broadway in "South Pacific" the next. Ramey’s repertoire
stretches from Mozart to "Kismet" and he brings this versatility to
the Wadsworth Theater tonight.
Ramey will perform a program that includes arias by Handel and
Mozart, songs by Franz Schubert, and works by American composers
George Gershwin and Samuel Barber. The evening also includes a
group of songs by Charles Griffes.
Asked about the individual works, Ramey laughs and responds in
his deep, warm voice, "I like them all. I think it’s important that
a singer enjoys performing everything on a program."
"I’ve always been able to do bel canto down to drama  the
Schubert is dramatic  down to Gershwin, which is light,"
continues Ramey. "Not to say that it’s pop, but it is light."
Pianist Warren Jones accompanies Ramey in this wide-ranging
program. Jones, who has appeared with such singers as Marilyn Horne
and Kathleen Battle, enjoys a long partnership with Ramey.
"We’ve been working together for eight or nine years," says
Ramey. "This is our third sort of tour like this.
"The two of us get together and he plays through things. He has
suggestions before the performance. I rely on his knowledge of the
vocal repertoire."
Ramey also works with many other musicians, including singers
and conductors. One of the highlights of his career came when he
worked with the late maestro Herbert von Karajan at the prestigious
Salzburg Easter Festival.
Before being approached by Karajan, Ramey had already appeared
frequently in major European and American opera houses. His work
with the maestro in Mozart’s "Don Giovanni" set the seal on Ramey’s
international reputation.
"(Karajan) had heard about me and was looking for someone to do
a new Don Giovanni in Salzburg," says Ramey. "He had me flown to
Salzburg to do a special audition for him."
Ramey created the title role for Karajan’s production. "Working
with him was really quite fascinating," the singer recalls.
"We first did the production at the Easter Festival. It was
wonderful. The cast was like a small family almost. There were lots
of rehearsals in Karajan’s office. It was one of the memorable
experiences of my life."
It was a memorable experience indeed. Karajan’s approach to
recording the work after the production created a spontaneity
unique in the world of recorded opera. The maestro insisted that
the entire cast be present at all recording sessions.
None of the singers knew before each session which scene they
would put on tape that day. Karajan would inform them when they
arrived in the studio, and the results affirm the remarkable nature
of Ramey’s experience.
Ramey recommends the recording (Deutsche Grammophon) to
listeners interested in becoming acquainted with his work. Others
on his list include Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro with Sir Georg
Solti (London) and Verdi’s Don Carlo and Attila (both on EMI).
Making appearances throughout North America and Europe and
continuing his activity in the recording studio, Ramey has captured
the ears of audiences everywhere with his remarkable voice. His
rare Los Angeles appearance tonight gives listeners here a chance
to decide whether he really is the king.
RECITAL: Samuel Ramey, bass, and Warren Jones, piano, perform
Barber, Gershwin, Griffes, Handel and Schubert at the Veterans
Wadsworth Theater. Friday, Jan. 14 at 8 p.m.. Presented by UCLA
Center for the Performing Arts. TIX: $40, $37, $11 for students
with valid I.D. For more info call (310) 825-2101.