I was thinking less of the voice than the role.  Not much of an opera
buff, I know enough to know that Samuel Ramey is a major star, but isn't
it the tenors who get the lion's share of attention?  I'm sure the scene
waiting in the subway was staged, which adds to the fact that he may not
take himself as seriously as the superstar tenors.  I remember reading
that part of the theory of humor is that what makes something funny is
an unexpected contrast.  After seeing all of the glamour of the arrival
of THE tenors, seeing "poor" Samuel having to wait on a crowded platform
for a train to get around town gave me a good laugh.

Ron