Today is the 70th birthday of the great American bass Samuel Ramey. To mark the anniversary here are 7 photographs of the singer taken by Robert Cahen. A bonus – Assur’s mad scene from the second act of Rossini’s Semiramide. This is from the performance of the opera at the Met on Dec 29, 1990.

Ramey Semiramide Deh ti ferma…Que numi furenti. The excerpt shows Ramey’s extraordinary combination of coloratura technique and vocal power, range, and beauty. No other bass I ever heard could sing like this.

Boris Godunov San Francisco Opera 2008

Boris Godunov Chicago 1994

Mefistofele San Francisco 1989

Don Quichotte San Francisco Opera 1990

Concert rehearsal San Francisco Opera 2003

Maestro Donald Runnicles and the Rameys Oct 9, 2003

Mr and Mrs Sam Ramey 2008