I was very fortunate to have been there that night, and I overheard an insider remarking that since it was Ghiaurov's 'night', they did him no favors by putting him up against Ramey in this scene. Both great basses, no question, but at that point in their careers Sam had an unfair advantage. Thanks for posting!
Wonderful gem! Two of the greatest basses that ever existed. So glad someone was in the audience recording this. I don't believe there is any other record of Ghiaurov and Ramey working together. But I question the description of this video. For one, the James Levine 25th Anniversary Gala happened in 1996 (not 1991) and Ghiaurov and Ramey didn't do this on that Gala. In fact, Ghiaurov didn't even do the gala in the first place! I know this because I saw it live on PBS and I grew up watching it after recording it on VHS.
This would be really interesting if they had both been the same age in this performance. Ghiaurov is still great in this, but he was thirteen years older than Ramey.
@@jovi1715 I know that it's Opera. But here he sounds much bigger than Ghiaurov. That's suspicious. And many haters sey he (there are many that sort storys about Pavarotti, Domingo...) use amplifying
@@boristemkin Ramey has a big voice but much smaller than Ghiaurov but his voice has more squillo, while Ghiaurov had an effortless gigantic sound that filled easily the auditoriums but is a type of voice that usually is not recorded in its full capacity. If Ramey is close to a mic be will sound much bigger than Ghiaurov in all the recordings but live is totally different.
@James Williams There was no sound engineer. This was an amateur recording made by an individual in the audience. What you hear is unadulterated and how it sounded in that particular part of the auditorium.
@James Williams It seems to me quite evident in terms of sound brilliance, diction, consistency in the basses and correctness in the emission of the high notes. As an Italian listener, I understand perfectly the words sung by Ramey without having to follow the libretto. Conversely, those of Ghiaurov are a little mixed. However, the fact remains that we are faced with two immense singers that I have had the good fortune to hear several times live.
@James Williams I sang for many years with Ghiaurov and as great as he was, he never lost that throaty Russian sound. I never thought he had an Italian sound, and I thought the same of Ramey. I was onstage with Ramey when he made his debut at NYCO as Zuniga in Carmen, and sang with him for many years at City Opera and the Met. They both were truly great singers and each had their individual sound. However one chooses to view this moment in time, it's a perfect example of greatness.
I was very fortunate to have been there that night, and I overheard an insider remarking that since it was Ghiaurov's 'night', they did him no favors by putting him up against Ramey in this scene. Both great basses, no question, but at that point in their careers Sam had an unfair advantage. Thanks for posting!
Wonderful gem! Two of the greatest basses that ever existed. So glad someone was in the audience recording this. I don't believe there is any other record of Ghiaurov and Ramey working together. But I question the description of this video. For one, the James Levine 25th Anniversary Gala happened in 1996 (not 1991) and Ghiaurov and Ramey didn't do this on that Gala. In fact, Ghiaurov didn't even do the gala in the first place! I know this because I saw it live on PBS and I grew up watching it after recording it on VHS.
The description says it was a different gala.
GREAT AND WONDERFUL
Phenomenal work from both of them. However, it would have been more interesting if Nicolai Ghiaurov sang the Inquisitor and Samuel Ramey sang Filippo.
This is gorgeous. Ghiaurov still sounds colorful and resonant too!
i due più grandi bassi degli ultimi 40 anni insieme. Un sogno
This would be really interesting if they had both been the same age in this performance. Ghiaurov is still great in this, but he was thirteen years older than Ramey.
Ghiaurov was born in 1929, Ramey in 1942. That's correct!
Ghiaurov remains unique like Ramey. Very difficult to compare. But there’s a reason why Ghiaurov is announced as the post-war greatest basso…
7z
If Ramey sung this without amplifier, is very great.
Of course he did without amp!!!!! It's OPERA.
@@jovi1715 I know that it's Opera. But here he sounds much bigger than Ghiaurov. That's suspicious. And many haters sey he (there are many that sort storys about Pavarotti, Domingo...) use amplifying
@@boristemkin He didn’t use amplifying, but he was probably closer to the microphone. Ramey has a huge voice but not “much bigger than Ghiaurov”.
@@boristemkin Ramey has a big voice but much smaller than Ghiaurov but his voice has more squillo, while Ghiaurov had an effortless gigantic sound that filled easily the auditoriums but is a type of voice that usually is not recorded in its full capacity. If Ramey is close to a mic be will sound much bigger than Ghiaurov in all the recordings but live is totally different.
@James Williams There was no sound engineer. This was an amateur recording made by an individual in the audience. What you hear is unadulterated and how it sounded in that particular part of the auditorium.
Ramey might have affected an older sound.
But then he would not have had the power that the role demands.
You can hear that Ghiaurov has lost strength in his lowest notes - but a very powerful performance by both.
That’s not losing strength but interpretation of the role… The inquisitor is angry with the king that’s why Ramey sings Fortissimo
Here Ramey as a great inquisitor is impressive and of absolute authority, I would dare to say that here he is even superior to Ghiaurov.
@James Williams It seems to me quite evident in terms of sound brilliance, diction, consistency in the basses and correctness in the emission of the high notes. As an Italian listener, I understand perfectly the words sung by Ramey without having to follow the libretto. Conversely, those of Ghiaurov are a little mixed. However, the fact remains that we are faced with two immense singers that I have had the good fortune to hear several times live.
@James Williams And it is precisely with regard to what you say that in this recording I find Ramey superior to Ghiaurov.
Both are great.
davide caldera you must be very young....
@James Williams I sang for many years with Ghiaurov and as great as he was, he never lost that throaty Russian sound. I never thought he had an Italian sound, and I thought the same of Ramey. I was onstage with Ramey when he made his debut at NYCO as Zuniga in Carmen, and sang with him for many years at City Opera and the Met. They both were truly great singers and each had their individual sound. However one chooses to view this moment in time, it's a perfect example of greatness.