Famed Bass-Baritone to Present Jessye Norman Master Class

March 2010

Opera star Samuel Ramey, known for his commanding vocalism, exceptional musicianship, elegant stage presence, uncommon theatrical abilities, and a versatility that has resulted in an impressive breadth of repertoire, will conduct a master class with voice students from the School of Music, Theatre & Dance on Tuesday, March 30th, 7:00-9:30 p.m., at Hill Auditorium.

Ramey will be presented as part of the Jessye Norman Master Class series, named for our illustrious SMTD alumna (MM ’68, HD ’87). While his versatility is evident in his extensive body of work, Ramey is perhaps best known for roles created for his vocal range. Composers of opera, it seems, equate villainy with the bass voice, and Ramey has been called upon to sing the most devilish of roles. His Faust is legendary, as is his Mephistopheles—the devil to whom Faust sold his soul—most notably in Boito’s Mefistofele, which Ramey sang in over 70 performances in the Robert Carsen production specifically crafted for him.

Other devilish roles have included Berlioz’ devil in La damnation de Faust, the sinister Nick Shadow in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, and the tour de force, singing the role of all four villains in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann, prompting one New York Post reviewer to comment that “it was the best interpretation of the four villains I can remember in the last 25 years.”

That same reviewer commented, “This is the stuff of which operatic legends are made.” The master class is open to the public. Please join us for this exciting evening.