Carmen at Opera Santa Barbara
“Chinese American bass-baritone and
Santa Barbara resident Colin Ramsey has been seen in five Opera Santa Barbara productions since 2017. Taking to the role of Carmen’s most recent lover the toreador Escamillo as snugly as the character’s tight-fitting Taleguilla, Ramsey offered Friday’s audience a character study in the subtle narcissism appropriate for
a popular bullring celebrity and full-time gigolo. His addictively chocolatey vocal timbre clinched the heady spell he presented on stage in his debut interpretation of the role.”
Photo: Zach Mendez
“Also in the precarious mix of characters
is a bullfighter and would-be Carmen lover Escamillo (all due brash charm and garrulous
sonorities from baritone Colin Ramsey).”
La bohème at San Diego Opera
“Colin Ramsey sang of his beloved coat in well-shaped, bronzed tones.”
“Bass Colin Ramsey gave a touching account of “Vecchia zimarra,” his final act farewell to the coat he intends to pawn to procure medicine for Mimi. ”
Lucia di Lammermoor at Festival Lyrique en Mer
“La basse de Colin Ramsey dans le rôle de Raimondo impressionne par les graves profonds d’une voix bien projetée sur un legato impeccable.
(Colin Ramsey’s bass in the role of Raimondo impresses with the deep bass of a well-projected voice on an impeccable legato.)”
Madama Butterfly at Santa Fe Opera
“All of the Apprentice Singers shone in their brief solo assignments, with bass Colin Ramsey contributing particularly suave declamations as the Registrar.”
La Traviata at Opera San Jose
R to L: Christina Pezzarossi as Flora, Amanda Kingston as Violetta, Colin Ramsey as Dr. Grenville
Photo Credit: Pat Kirk
“In true luxury casting bass-baritone Colin Ramsey, who has successfully assumed a number of major roles at OSJ, was a firm-toned Doctor Grenvil.”
“ Colin Ramsey displays his fathoms-deep bass in the rather
brief role of Dr. Grenvil.”
Manon at Opera Santa Barbara
“while bass Colin Ramsey...Brought to the role of the Chevalier’s father, Le Comte des Grieux, believable parental patent, his voice filling the Granada Theatre soulfully.”
Così fan tutte at Opera San Jose
“Colin Ramsey sang Guglielmo with a gorgeous big bass-baritone.”
“a killer voice, so deep and poised it
almost betrays his delicate features”
Colin Ramsey as Guglielmo and Cassandra Zoe-Velasco as Dorabella
Photo Credit: Bob Shomler
La bohème with Opera San Jose
Colin Ramsey as Colline
Photo Credit: Bob Shomler
“Colin Ramsey’s participation always raises high expectations, since this talented young bass always brings assured singing and committed stage presence to every role. Mr. Ramsey does not disappoint, scoring a solid success with a wrenching, doleful Vecchia zimarra.”
“As the philosopher Colline, bass-baritone Colin Ramsey gave an assured performance of the Act IV coat aria.”
Verdi's Requiem with the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus
“The four vocal soloists, soprano Ariana Strahl; mezzo-soprano, Victoria Vargas; tenor, Robert Breault; and bass-baritone, Colin Ramsey were nicely matched, as demonstrated in their first quartet, Kyrie eleison. Ramsey’s voice was particularly resonant as he sang “Oro supplex et acclinis.””
“Bass-baritone Colin Ramsey understood that both humility and dignity in the face of Judgment is our human right, in a fine-grained voice of great beauty.”
Silent Night at Opera San Jose
“Colin Ramsey’s wondrously sung Father Palmer showed once again that this accomplished Resident Artist is one the company’s major assets.”
Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Opera San Jose
“ As Basilio, Colin
Ramsey resembled a kind of Rocky Horror English professor,
constantly entering from the bathroom after a toilet flush (nitpick: an
anachronistic toilet flush). But even this level of silliness could not
hide his lush tone, notably in the song of slander, “La calunnia è un
venticello.” ”
“The oily Music Master Basilio was well-served by the wonderfully suave
basso voice of another Young Artist, Colin Ramsey. Allowing him to be
honestly, unabashedly youthful was an inspired choice, and no comedy was
lost by showcasing Mr. Ramsey’s gorgeously rolling tones, with their vibrant
young sheen. A solidly delivered La calunnia has rarely been as pleasingly
voiced, yet with all the necessary sinuous underpinnings.”
Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera San José
“Bass Colin Ramsey (another R.A.!) was a revelation to me as a beautifully calibrated Raimondo. Until Mr. Ramsey, I have never been persuaded by this role or its musical characterization. But on this day, his majestic, orotund, ravishing bass and sincere acting made as good a case for this part as I imagine is possible. ”
“Colin Ramsey as the mediating chaplain has a wonderfully expressive bass voice which frequently sang out above the chorus, not with sheer power but with a quiet projection, graceful, yet authoritative – one of the highlights of the production.”
Photo Courtesy of Bob Shomler
“bass Colin Ramsey and mezzo Anna Yelizarova impressed vocally in convincing portrayals of Raimondo and Alisa.”
St Matthew Passion at Gulfshore Opera
“Ramsey had a full, rich bass-baritone range in which he conveyed convincingly to the audience the emotions of Jesus as he faced his betrayal, crucifixion and death.”
La bohème at Sarasota Opera 2015
“...Colin Ramsey as Colline, rounded out the quartet of Bohemians with focused sounds and characterizations. In fact, Ramsey’s farewell to his beloved overcoat in the last act was fittingly touching and beautifully sung.”
The Magic Flute at Pacific Musicworks 2015
“Colin Ramsey brought warmth and depth to the role of Sarastro.”
Photo by Rosetta Greek
Messiah with The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra 2014
“At the other end of the sonic spectrum was bass Colin Ramsey, who had tremendous power and clarity in his lowest notes, making “Why do the nations so furiously rage” into the kind of attention-grabbing interlude that Handel likely intended”
Semele at Pacific Musicworks 2014
“Colin Ramsey’s deep, rich bass is a foundation you could build a castle on.”
“And what stars they were! It’s hard to decide which was more brilliant, ... the sonorous bass of Colin Ramsey”
The Consul at Seattle Opera 2014
“Mr. Kofner (Colin Ramsey, who recently wowed as Collatinus in Vespertine’s production of The Rape of Lucretia) tries to follow the rules, even when he is taken advantage of, even when he is being ignored. Ramsey’s earnestness as a true believer is shattering.”
“Bass Colin Ramsey, as the grave Mr. Kofner, mezzo Deborah Nansteel, as the emotional Foreign Woman he helps... all had sumptuous voices.”
“Colin Ramsey is a touching, effective Mr. Kofner.”
La Cenerentola at Green Mountain Opera Festival 2014
“Colin Ramsey sang beautifully as the aforementioned — and wickedly indescribable — “fairy godfather”