Carmen. Bizet. Votre toast

[TheTenorJG]

Samuel Ramey is amazing...he sings with the heart....it is a nice interpretation of the Toreador 's aria.

[gabrivenere2008]

Nulla da dire:semplicemente bravissimo!!!

[Mentidero]

Que conste hablo de la actuación y la coreografía: qué pobres, casi todas las interpretaciones de esta ópera, donde centran la atención en los muletazos, y no en lo que la letra misma dice.

Por otra parte, la interpretación acústica sí está formidable. Ni modo, unas por otras.

[shioristefani]

quién es la mezzosoprano que interpreta a Carmen?

[azazel6991]

Alguien sabe donde se puede ver o conseguir la obra entera(pero con video, porq la tengo toda pero sin video) gracias :D

[Knauzis]

Super!!!

[Eksistencia]

Это просто потрясающе!!!!

[spyridon77]

wow....just listen to his Fs....

[Bassbariton92]

I think Escamillo is a "Kavalierbariton"...Ramey is a basso cantate, but he sings this song perfectly...

[jewelmarkess]

An outstanding performance, just perfect, both singing and acting.

[zegermans750]

I don't know what's more impressive, this rendition, or the fact that the met's makeup department made agnes baltsa cute

[fiora32]

j'aime cet opéra

[meistersinger92]

I love Sam Ramey, but I'm not sure I care for this casting of him. Don't get me wrong he is as close to perfect as they come as far as music and text, and technically (breathing) is impeccable, BUT he is a bass-baritone. In almost all cases this means the voice lacks in weight. This being said there are parts of this where the orchestra drowns him noticeably. Escamillo is a part written to be sung by a Cavalier Baritone.

[jedmeyers]

@meistersinger92 You're mistaken. Escamillo is one for the core bass-baritone operatic parts.

[arpeggio1358]

@meistersinger92 Actually Ramey is a basso cantante.  Quite a few basses have sung this role.

[DanyNicola]

@meistersinger92 If by bass-baritone you mean High Bass or Basso Cantante, OK. But if you mean an ambiguous voice between bass and baritone, NO.

[trilobit4]

neni to samuel ramey?

[xMoreThanMyOwnLifex]

I could listen to this all day. LOVE it!

[dapontemozart1989]

BIS! BIS! Great Ramey! BIS!

[Helvir07]

I think Raimondi is better, because Ramey is too tight!

[arpeggio1358]

@Helvir07 I'm sorry, but Raimondi's "majestic, bull fighter as religion" portrayal of Escamillo in the 1982 film with Domingo and Migenes-Johnson absolutely put me to sleep. Ramey's "rock star" portrayal is just about perfect.

[Daniel6996ful]

Votre toast, ya'll!! make way for the alpha male.

[Daniel6996ful]

I actually just finished watching this entire production. I was impressed by the entire cast, accept for the carmen. My favorite two characters were this dude and the lady who plays carreras's lady that is seemingly in distress at the fact that he is obviously obsessed with carmen. all in all, this aria is jawesome!!!

[MistiineChristine]

Ohh.. watching & hearing this scene ALWAYS cheers me up. Listening to Mr. Ramey sing makes me melt "like a Popsicle on the fourth of July!"

I wish I was alive that performance night! But being able to watch it over and over again on Youtube will have to suffice. I know it's superficial, but I can't resist Ramey's swagger as Escamillo! It had to have been difficult for Baltsa to remain still and ignore THIS right across the stage.

[redpeg97]

i saw sam ramey sing this in chicago at grant park several years ago at the opera in the park. a friend of mine and i are still talking about it. he was 60 at the time and was swinging an animal print cape. all kinds/ages of women were surging toward the stage. they were under the "ramey" spell. He was hypnotic!!! i sure hope someone filmed it. another one of those incredible moments in music from sam ramey.

[bassfanne45]

Someone once said the plot of Carmen is: Micaela loves Jose, Jose loves Carmen, Carmen loves Escamillo, and Escamillo loves only himself. I've always wanted to see a production where, after Carmen dies, Escamillo comes out of the arena with an entourage of women, looks at Carmen lying dead, looks away, not wanting to get involved and with an "Oh well" look on his face, offers his arms to two of the women with him, and they go off arm in arm in arm with the rest of the entourage following.

[mikemraz]

Of course the luscious Met orchestra and Levine's genius in the pit don't hurt either!! This Carmen and the Giovanni that I suggested are both Met productions ... BRAVI TUTTI !!!!!!!!!

[mikemraz]

If you think he's a great Escamillo, check out his Don Giovanni on youtube (search for Met Giovanni 1990). It's in 19 or 20 parts, definitely worth watching it all. Stellar cast and Ramey is phenomenal.

[redhead529]

Finally, someone performs this the way it's supposed to be performed! Ramey is a rock star in this role...and that's just the way it should be. One critic, after seeing Ramey in this production, said, "At last, Escamillo is no longer the dullest man in Spain."

[Arashi110]

He totally steals the show in this scene! After that he must have had Carmen wrapped in golden paper and tied with a ribbon for him.

[redhead529]

@Arashi110, He's the perfect Escamillo. Most of the singers who sing this role, just don't know how flashy the acting has to be. Of course, Ramey has the perfect voice for it, also. Justino Diaz (also on YouTube) does a pretty fair Escamillo, too. You might want to take a look at it.

[bassfanne45]

@redhead529 Finally, someone else besides me realizes that Escamillo is a rock star, and that the role should be performed that way. I've always thought that Ramey is a rock star in this role. thank you for your comments!

[olayhakan]

perfect!!!

[papagena92]

Samuel Ramey is one of the best Escamillos ever!!!!!

And Levine is just in the right tempo for this piece... Not at all like Baremboin at la Scala this year. Compare these two and hear the difference, both in tempo and singing.

Speed up a bit, Daniel! advice ^^

[LifeJuice90]

I love Ramey. He is just so different than most singers. It is something about him.

[mkbub]

he reeks of manliness....there's only a few productions where i've ever envied Carmen - this might be number one.

[Joselias1979]

Muchas gracias. El toreador de Ramey fue el primero que escuché.

[Paier]

those smiles behin him when hes getting his ovation aint fake- ramey is the best no question about it

[sandrik100]

Probably, the best toreador. Deep, powerful, ringing voice with excellent stage presence and very good arrangement!

[baritono81]

Yes!! Excellent voice, and the stage presence really sets this apart from other versions...4:01 he steps to the orchestra. Lots of subtlety to his interpretation--very effective. Is this at the Met?

[Arashi110]

Yep. The Met, 1987. One of the best Carmens on video!

[manoelramires]

Simplesmente, extasiante. Sublime. Maravilhoso. De todas as apresentações que vi ao vivo ou por vídeo essa é a melhor. A vibração é irrepreensível

[bodiloto]

TIBBETT,PINZA,SIEPI,GHIUSELEV,­GHIAUROV...eccetera !!!!!!

[blichilde]

Ma c'è la possibilità che un cantante vivente riscuota la sua approvazione?

[zegermans750]

that's a really long round of applause

[Arashi110]

And certainly well-deserved.

[stevevandien]

Ramey at his best. I recall seeing this performance on PBS in 1987 and finding him far superior to either Baltsa or Carrerras --

[candidnt]

Samuel Ramey is outstanding, but the choreography for this is damn goofy, especially the repetitive shawl-twirling. On the other hand, it's Samuel Ramey. He could sing "La ci darem la mano" to a stuffed flamingo and I'd be overcome by the sexiness of it.

[Ayanamiishot]

the shawl twirling is in imitation of bull-fighting. You know "Toro, toro, ole!" that sort fo thing? I think it's brilliant, just like Ramey.

[bassfanne45]

@candidnt Loved the stuffed flamingo comment!

[brigid88]

@candidnt yeah the shawl thing is totally awkward and a tad distracting...i think it would take someone of ramey's general brilliance/talent/dead sexiness to make you overlook it...

btw, don't you just love how agnes baltsa looks genuinely frightened when she realizes ramey is staring at her?! if he gave me that look, i'd probably sit bolt upright, too. :D :D :D

[aplantage1]

I love it when he jumps off the table that his voice remains stable.

[Ayanamiishot]

That's the mark of years and years of solid vocal training. I hope to be that good someday.

[muzikamuz]

Je m' amuse à lire les commentaires s' étonnant de sa capacité à atteindre les hauts registres...

Mais contrairement à ce que pensent beaucoup de gens, les basses et barytons ont une grande amplitude vocale. On se focalise sur les ténors, mais ceux-ci peinent beaucoup à descendre dans les graves... Ils restent prisonniers de leur registre

[liric01994]

Ramey is incredibol!!!!!C'est incroyable!!!

[aldo778899]

Does anyone know where exactly this guy's chest voice ends? I mean, damn, he's a basso cantante and he's got low notes, but this aria begins with a middle c and goes even higher.

[Arashi110]

Well, he has a high A when he's really, really inspired. :-)

[paldrich1]

Can you tell me where I can hear the high A from Ramey? The highest I have ever heard him do is the G it Atilla. Thank You

[Arashi110]

In the 1992 'Il viaggio a Reims' in Berlin he sings a high A natural in the encore of Gran pezzo concertato.

[paldrich1]

Thank you so much for directing me to the 1992 'Il viaggio a Reims. One has to wonder what confluence of genetic gifts were bestowed upon Sam Ramey to give him the ability to the things he does. At the Met I heard him slide down from a low D which he performs in Mefistofele. He was really on that night. When he did the slide he ended up somewhere below a low A. It could be heard clearly anywhere in the hall. Smiling the entire time! He truly loves to perform. Who can blame him?

[Arashi110]

Oh yes, that sunny, open-hearted smile. I love his curtain calls as much as watching him on stage. He must be a really nice person. And his voice is one of a kind indeed. "A tessitura from here to sunset", as a friend of mine once said. Not to mention the astounding flexibility. I've never ever heard a bass besides him who could outmatch a coloratura soprano in vocal acrobatics. He must be proclaimed a national treasure.

[paldrich1]

Oh yes, he truly is a wonderful person. And a national treasure I agree! I once had a spinning, lighted, 360 degree, handheld sign that I bought at Disney World. My wife programmed it to say Bravo Ramey. I spun it around after his performance in Nabucco. . He loved it. He looked at me and gave a huge smile and a special hand clap at knee level. Everyone in the house could see it! It was a wonderful moment. As a bass myself I am always amazed at the things I hear him do.

[paldrich1]

aldo778899 : I have heard Ramey live many many times. The voice seems to have no bottom. It is a genetic fluke. His low D's can be heard clearly in any part of the Met. It isn't just that he can hit the notes it is the fact that he can focus them perfectly and they sound beautiful. Listen to his low D in part 8 of "The Creation." Then remember that the same man can sing a beautiful high G, and can sing coloratura better than any bass I have ever heard. This is a one of a kind voice.

[bassfanne45]

@paldrich1 You put it perfectly. He really does have a one of a kind voice.

[muzikamuz]

The fact to be a basso or Baryton does'nt means to be unable to reach the high notes.

But the fact to be a tenor often means to be unable to reach the low notes

[pechorin1841]

I think he is a bass with really great top notes. The guy can hit low d's and even lower than that! his singing is so good that he can sing baritone roles though. but I think he is not a bass-baritone but a bass.

[Arashi110]

Agreed. Though many baritones can go green with envy of his high notes (I've heard him hit a high A!). %)

[PanchoQV]

toreador en garde! toreador, toreador (8)

[toucanoccitan]

Oui, ce serait peut être mieux de donner en infos le nom des chanteurs

[toucanoccitan]

Oui, ce ser

[ClassicA111]

The third lady that sang, with the mean face, has a Beautiful voice!!!!!!

[Arashi110]

lol that was Carmen, played by Agnes Baltsa.

[Aetion]

Agnes Baltsa, one of the best Carmen(s) ever! That's the opinion of von Karajan too.

[Arashi110]

Absolutely true! This production I love most because it features my favorite Carmen and Escamillo of all.

[qudrms]

who is Bariton??

[watchstone]

Samuel Ramey

[joeyeff]

Amazing. The whole package. To my mind, rivaled only by Rene Pape's turn as Escamillo at The Met. Bravo!

[rafanegrete]

Bravo!!!

[Deacalypso]

Magnífico!!!

Bravo !!!!

[luigipava]

ho il dvd di qst versione della carmen stupenda

[greeneyesj17362]

i was forced to watch this performence of carmen in music class and it's the best i've seen

[tmtstudio1983]

I think this is the best "Toreador song" I've heard and watch. In his singing, acting, presentation, and costume, staging...all really shows the "confident, charming" of the character of Toreador. I especially like the part that he jumps down from the table, the orchestra just match perfectly to make that jump fxxking powerful!!

[Arashi110]

Still one of my favorite Escamillos, despite the abundance of them around. Samuel Ramey is GREAT!

[orthochrom]

Saw him in Vienna as Dappertutto 10 days ago.

He is still one of the best singers. Great concentration, easy high notes. The rest of the singers seemed like students.

[DarthLiberator]

Muy bueno de verdad...

[wasssaup]

BOTH sing the aria very well. However, unlike Tibbett, Ramey has GOOD french

[vernon361970]

my word you peopole cant appreciate people  effort....that song is difficult it seems easy but it is not.... there is lot going on that song

[ilFactotum]

Word. It's sometimes said that this aria is too high for a bass and too low for a baritone. I sometimes get the impression that people think catchy tunes like this one or "Nessun dorma" and "Largo al factotum" are easy just because they're sung a lot, a rather poor deduction.

[796824]

Listen to LAWRENCE TRIBBETT to hear the way this should be sung This fellow is singing on the "edge" of his voice

[MarcoHippie]

donde puedo encontrar las partituras de esta Aria??

[marianmus]

¿Qué tipo de partitura?

[MarcoHippie]

Para voz

[grifonzo]

@marianmus piano por ejemplo :D

[rurmundo]

@marianmus es canal es tv mezzo? en que idioma hablan?

[Salsademika]

sheet music digital

[Salsademika]

@MarcoHippie Aqui: Aqui en esta direccion sheetmusicdigital

[lamezzoenfrancais]

Samuel Ramey... delish.

[pljcj]

Sam Ramey as Escamillo - Ah! Bravo! Torro!