The American opera singer Samuel Ramey (March 28, 1942) is considered by many the finest bass-baritone singer of his generation. He is greatly admired for his range and versatility, having both the bel canto technique to sing Handel, Mozart, Rossini, as well as the power to handle the dramatic roles of Verdi and Wagner. In January, 1984, Ramey made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in Handel's Rinaldo. He has since become fixture at the La Scala, Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera, the Paris Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the New York City Opera, and the San Francisco Opera