CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Bizet - Carmen / Levine, Baltsa, Carreras, Metropolitan Opera

starring: Agnes Baltsa, Jose Carreras, Samuel Ramey, Leona Mitchell, Myra Merritt
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date December 12, 2000
For ages I have been familiar with this opera, and once upon a time designed costumes for it, too. This version was somewhat different, but very good. The settings didn't always appear as though it was the cigarette factory or the café of Lilas Pastias, but the acting was good and the singing excellent. Not a recent production, it still shows how good Jose Carreras is. Unfortunately Samuel Ramey didn't seem as convincing as Escamillo as he could have. Though a smaller role, it is nevertheless very important to the story.

The music of deutsche grammophon has always been well known and looked for and overall it is hard to fault the Metropolitan and these performers. James Levine leads the ever fabulous orchestra as well. I give it ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Jules Massenet - Manon / Dessay, Villazon, Ramey, Lanza, Henry, Perez, McVicar (Gran Teatre del Liceu 2007)

starring: Natalie Dessay, Rolando Villazon, Samuel Ramey, Manuel Lanza, Victor Pabro Pérez
directed by: David McVicar, François Roussillon

Release Date January 15, 2008
It is an excellent presentation of Massenet's opera Manon. Of course, the dream cast of Natalie Dessay and Rolando Villazon contributes enormously to the enjoyment of this DVD. The production is first-class and depicts the life of these women, who are paid for by wealthy suiters, more realistically than in any other production.
Highly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

The La Scala Opera Collection / Adriana Lecouvreur, Lucia di Lammermoor, Cosi fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, Lo Frate 'Nnamorato, La Fanciulla del West, La Donna del Lago, William Tell, Attila, I Due Foscari, I Vespri Siciliani

starring: Edita Gruberova, Mirella Freni Samuel Ramey, Placido Domingo

Release Date July 25, 2006
This collection of operas is a great introduction to opera and a great value for the price. Every title comes with the complete libretto and synopsis, too.

The production of Cosi Fan Tutte in this set launched my own love of opera. I think it's still hard to beat!

Highly recommended!

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Verdi - Nabucco / Ramey, Guleghina, Pons, White, Hughes Jones, Deshorties, Levine, Metropolitan Opera

starring: Samuel Ramey, Maria Guleghina, Juan Pons, Wendy White, Gwyn Hughes Jones
directed by: James Levine

Release Date March 08, 2005
I didn't even bother to read the reviews of less than 5 stars. This performance is the Met at its best, Levine at the top of his form, and one has to wonder if, in Verdi's lifetime, it was ever performed this well.

Its other dvd version, from La Scala, is stodgy and plodding; this performance moves with the winds of freedom that were just beginning to blow through Italia of the time.

Disclosure: I wept during Va pensiero...that never happened before...and I wept during the encore (I can't remember another Met encore in my day)...the Metropolitan Opera Chorus should be counted amongst the wonders of the world.

So, whoever found something to object to, I leave them to their spleen. I had a grand time and a Big Fat Bronx Cheer to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Metropolitan Opera Gala - James Levine's 25th Anniversary

starring: Renee Fleming, Deborah Voigt, Karita Mattila, Roberto Alagna, Thomas Hampson

Release Date November 22, 2005
This is a magnificent presentation, so many artists and such terrific performances from all of them, the pity of it is that there have been so many other fabulous performances that have been left out, I have the original VCR issue and there are far more arias and duets than there are on the two DVD's, the magnificent aria from Jessye Norman is missing and so is Alfredo Kraus's fantastic rendition of Pourquoi me reveiller among others. I would prefer to pay a bit extra for a 3 DVD set to get the missing items. The original concert went for something like 6 hours, why can't we have it all?

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video - Mozart - Don Giovanni

starring: Samuel Ramey, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Gösta Winbergh, Paata Burchuladze, Julia Varady
directed by: Claus Viller

Release Date August 29, 2000
This DVD of Mozart's Don Giovanni is a really good one by my standards. The top-notch cast, brilliant scenery and costumes, and wonderful orchestra make this one of my favorite Don's ever. I personally don't like Herbert von Karajan, but I learned to tolerate him. Samuel Ramey as the vile Don was a great casting decision. He blends vivacity and vileness it one very impressive package. Anna Tomowa-Sintow is a brilliant Donna Anna. Her high notes are absolutely stunning and sings with a firm foundation. The Don Ottavio of Gosta Winbergh is stunning, but he lacked something. Nevertheless he was very pleasing. The Commendatore of Paata Burchuladze is good for all that he's in. Now for the best: Julia Varady as Donna Elvira. I think she was Karajan's substitute for Agnes Baltsa ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Boito - Mefistofele / Arena, Ramey, Benackova, San Francisco Opera

starring: Samuel Ramey, Gabriela Benacková, Dennis O'Neill (II), Emily Manhart, Daniel Harper
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date July 31, 2001
We should all be grateful for the tenacity of Arrigo Boito.After a disasterous debut,he reworked "Mefistofele" into the masterpiece we enjoy today.I own 2 copies of the opera on cd.The Rudel production with Treigle,Domingo& Caballe as the principles.The Gavazzeni production with Ghiaurov,Bergonzi& Kabaivanska as the principals
"Mefistofele" is grand opera at its grandest.From prologue to epilogue,it is a feast for the eyes and ears.The antics at the Easter celebration may raise an eyebrow or two but hang in there. Samuel Ramey was born to play Mefistofele. He is at his zenith in this performance.His voice had to have shook the rafters of the enormous War Memorial.Gabriela Benakova was wonderful in the dual roles of Margherita and Elena. Dennis O'Neill,whom I was ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Stravinsky - The Rake's Progress / Lott, Goeke, Ramey, Elias, van Allan, Haitink, Glyndebourne Opera

starring: Samuel Ramey, Leo Goeke, Felicity Lott, Richard van Allan, Bernard Haitink

Release Date August 16, 2005
Maybe I should explain my headline. For anyone approaching this work for the first time, or wanting to really settle down and get to grips with it, this is surely the best possible way.

First of all, the music making: it is superb. The London Philharmonic is spectacular. The many tricky solos in winds and brass are stunningly played, not only very accurately, but with beauty of tone and appropriate expression. The tuning of the strings in some tricky passages (the prelude to the Graveyard Scene for example) is pristine and the harpsichordist is simply a virtuoso (he accompanies the Graveyard Scene with exemplary clarity and point). Haitink's conducting is exceptional. He is very accurate, superb at pointing details and while he is aware of the composer's own rather ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Rossini - Semiramide / Conlon, Anderson, Horne, Metropolitan Opera

starring: June Anderson, Marilyn Horne, Stanford Olsen, Samuel Ramey, Young-Ok Shin
directed by: Brian Large

Release Date December 12, 2000
This has become my favorite opera, mainly because of this performance. Every character is superbly played. The music is a beautiful as can be imagined. Sanford Olson has one of the greatest tenor voices I have ever heard and his role is magnificent.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Glyndebourne Diamonds: Fidelio, Falstaff, Macbeth, The Rake's Progress, Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria

starring: Samuel Ramey, Janet Baker, Felicity Lott, Elizabeth Soderstrom, Kostas Paskalis
directed by: Jean-Pierre Ponelle

Release Date June 26, 2007
This has become my favorite opera, mainly because of this performance. Every character is superbly played. The music is a beautiful as can be imagined. Sanford Olson has one of the greatest tenor voices I have ever heard and his role is magnificent.