Customer Reviews

No Tenors Allowed: Famous Duets for Baritone and Bass

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It had always been my impression that when basses and baritones got together to sing, they were either intent on murdering each other, or else they were engaged in a jolly, male-bonding patter song. "No Tenors Allowed" (NTA) has examples of both of these types of duets. But the lower voices are also opera's authority figures, so we also have a smattering of Doges and Kings on this CD.

The basso cantante of Samuel Ramey and the baritone of Thomas Hampson swirl together like chocolate liqueur in coffee. This CD vibrates with dark sonics. Both artists bring their considerable powers of interpretation to these roles--no fooling around with buffo here, just wonderful singing.

There are a total of eight duets by Cimarosa, Donizetti, Bellini, and Verdi on this CD. Among my favorites:

"Cheti, cheti immantinente" from Donizetti's "Don Pasquale"--The elderly Don Pasquale (Ramey) and his personal physician Malatesta (Hampson) plot to catch Pasquale's young 'bride' in the garden with her lover. This might not sound like a particularly jolly situation, but the duet captures the verve of a hilarious plot--lots of "oh ho's," "ha ha's," and "hee hee's" scattered throughout--the very epitome of bass-baritone hilarity. Listening to this duet, I'm almost tempted to regret Ramey's preference for serious roles over lighter repertory like "Don Pasquale." His old buffoon schemes and whines and chuckles without a trace of vulgarity, just pure musicality. Both singers are patter-perfect.

"Suona ogni labbro il mio nome" from Verdi's "Simon Boccanegra"--This is the first of two great duets between adversaries Jacopo Fiesco, patrician and currently Doge of Genoa (Ramey) and Simon Boccanegra, a plebian and the future Doge (Hampson). Fiesco still hasn't forgiven Boccanegra for stealing the love of his daughter, Maria, who has borne Boccanegra a daughter out of wedlock. In this duet, Ramey's fury contrasts vividly with Hampson's pleading, "Padre mio, pieta t'implora..." as the baritone tells him of the loss of his little daughter (Fiesco's granddaughter). What Boccanegra does not yet know is that his lover, Maria has died. This duet is another fine example of a Verdian father-daughter heartbreaker, in which both men are mourning the loss of a daughter. Hampson sings with dramatic conviction, almost a sweet sound compared to the menacing undercurrent of Ramey's bass, but also dignified.

If you are a fan of the lower fach in Italian opera, NTA is a 'must' for your CD library.

This is one cd that I may actually wear out. I love this collection! What a marvelous idea, to highlight the most under-represented opera format--the bass/baritone duet--and bring together two of the current best--Ramey and Hampson--to pull it off. I am a bass-baritone and find all these selections a wonderful change of pace from the usuall opera recording. The liner notes are hilarious, with their tongue-in-cheek (or not) poke at tenors. My only complaint, and it is a significant one, is this the libreto. Come on, guys, no English (or German or French) translations? It would have helped with the duets from lessor known operas, Cimarosa's, for instances. But all in all, an excellent effort that I recommend highly!

Two more beautiful male voices you'll never hear. Ramey's strength is his astonishing technical expertise and Hampson's is his musicality and expressiveness. They both sound like they're having a ball singing together. My kids (ages 7 and 4) love this CD. I would have liked a greater variety of selections (half are Verdi duets), but this is one of the best of the many opera CDs I own. Ramey is one of the best basses in the world and one of the few who sounds absolutely clear and not muddy when he sings. My favorite of his recordings is "Le Nozze di Figaro" with Kiri Te Kanawa, directed by Solti. (I saw him in Simon Boccanegra, by the way, and he has magnificent stage presence.) This was the first time I'd heard Hampson, but this CD made me want to order more of his recordings.

I purchased this for myself, and after listening to the first track, IMMEDIATELY sent one to my dad as a gift. His e-mail upon receipt: Thanks for the CD. GREAT!!! You can tell that both of these gifted singers had a wonderful time recording this music -- they pour their hearts into every selection. I agree with another reviewer that the lack of English translation in the liner notes is a disappointment, however, this is soon forgiven in light of the beautiful singing!

Good stuff. I can't quite give 5 stars (4.5 would be more accurate) because of a couple of personal quibbles: the couple of "fluff" selections (the Matrimonio, Puritani, and Attila seem a bit lacking in musical value compared to the other tracks) and the fact that Hampson irritates occasionally with vocal scooping (especially inappropriate in the Boccanegra duet). Ramey is a hair below what I consider his best, but that still means, to me, that he's light years better than most other basses today. His isn't the plushest bass in the world, but I've never heard any more agile, or better high notes, and he still commands a nice low F. How I would love to hear him sing Fiesco for real.

Minor complaints aside, this is a pleasure to listen to. The "dueling" patter at the end of the Don Pasquale duet makes me laugh every time I hear it--as does Ramey's register choice for his final giggle--and the Marino Faliero surpassed my expectations for unfamiliar Donizetti. The liner notes are a little too cutesy about low voices = "real men", but I confess I'd rather listen to this disc than Pavarotti 99 times out of 100!

Bass & Baritone voices have played second fiddle to Tenors for too long. "No Tenors Allowed" places Ramey and Hampson on the cover, where they belong. These men sing thier duets with passion and humor. They blend wonderfully and sail through their solos. This CD is a must have for anyone who enjoys the resonance of bass/baritone voices. It's fun, funny and beautiful. Buy it today!

One to keep, one to give away. You'll wind up burning one for the car and one for the office regardless. A friend lent me this CD and I've bought 4 so far. One of the best! I can't recommend it enough.

Thomas Hampson and Samuel Ramey have been for the last few years among the most demanded opera stars and this recording is up to their usual high standards. I have seen several of their performances.

No Tenors Allowed contains 8 well known duets from operas by Cimarosa, Donizetti, Bellini, and Verdi. There has been some quibbling because, one of the duets (from Don Carlos) is in French rather than the advertised Italien.

On the classical music newsgroups, there have been many messages about this CD, almost unanimously favorable.

I would strongly recommend that anyone interested in opera should buy this great CD.

I was really surprised when I heard this recording for the first time. Hampson has a charming baritone voice although he doesn't give his best in the first track and Ramey is the best bass voice I prefer because he is able to sing all kind of music (Stravinski, Verdi, Donizetti...). This recording includes pure gems of opera from Cimarosa to Verdi. I wonder why the title of this recording is "Famous Italian duets" because there is an excerpt of Verdi's Don Carlos in French, which pleased me a lot because it has been cut in the version I own with Ramey and Pavarotti in Italian (EMI/ Muti/Scala CDS 754867-2). Donizetti's Don Pasquale convinced me the most (When will Ramey record the whole title Role of Don Pasquale? ). It is a famous duet of the opera. However, Verdi's Attila ("Uldino a me dinanzi") is a bad surprise. They should have recorded an other excerpt of opera due to Hampson (who is very bad in this track). I really prefer the Ramey/Zancanaro version (EMI/Muti/Studer/Shicoff/Scala CDS 749952-2).

It really worth ordering NTA now. You won't be disappointed.

I received the CD 24 hours ago and I've already played it three times. I can't tell you how much I love it. Ramey is at his very best and Hampson is simply wonderful. I never could understand the obsession with Tenors; these are REAL voices singing some absolutely wonderful duets. I just wish there were more. A second CD is certainly one to be wished for. The worst thing about this CD is that it ends. You want it to go on forever and ever. My favorite (if that is possible, I love all the cuts) is Donizetti's Marino Faliero. I've never heard it before, but this duet is simply magnificent.

Don't miss this fantastic combination of voices and music.