According to the Los Angeles Times, “Samuel Ramey is a national treasure…” He has reigned as one of the music world’s foremost interpreters of bass and bass-baritone operatic and concert repertoire for almost 30 years.  Mr. Ramey has established a reputation unequaled in the musical world for his portrayal of devils and villains, and Méphistophélès from Gounod’s Faust has become his most-performed role. He is equally well-known in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world for his performances of Boito’s Mefistofele, Berlioz’ devil in La damnation de Faust, the sinister Nick Shadow in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, and the tour de force of all four villains in Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann. His repertoire of more than fifty roles also encompasses the more standard repertoire, including Mozart’s Don Giovanni and the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro.  A native of Colby, Kansas, Samuel Ramey was named “Kansan of the Year” in 1995, and in 1998 the French Ministry of Culture awarded him the rank of Commander in the Order of Arts and Letters.