Valerian Ruminski
Valerian Ruminski is an American operatic bass.
Life and career
Martin Matthew Ruminski, known as Valerian Ruminski, was born in Lackawanna, New York. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree at University at Buffalo, [The State University of New York|SUNY Buffalo] in 1995. He received his vocal training at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, adopting the professional name "Valerian" in honor of his late father.Mr. Ruminski started his career as an opera singer in 1999, with his performance at the New York City Opera in Bizet's Carmen. He was recognized with the 1999 Lincoln Center Martin Segal Award. In 2000, he received a Career Grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation and won the First Prize in the MacAllister Singing Competition.
He made his Metropolitan Opera debut on 17 January 2001 as Zuniga in Bizet's Carmen, later performing also as Gualtiero in I puritani and Nikitich in Boris Godunov.
In 2004 Ruminski founded Nickel City Opera, a non-profit based in Buffalo, New York. In 2017, Ruminski received Opera America's Bravo Service Award, whose recipients "promote opera in their communities and work tirelessly to ensure the highest possible artistic quality and community service."
Roles and opera companies
Ruminski's opera performances have included, among others:- Skołuba in The Haunted Manor
- Colline in La bohème
- Zuniga in Carmen
- Albert in La Juive
- Sparafucile in Rigoletto
- Ferrando in Il trovatore
- Dottore Grenvil in La traviata
- Fenicio in Ermione
- The King of Egypt in Aida
- Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette
- Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte
- Gualtiero in I puritani
- Licaone in Giove in Argo
- Garibaldo in Rodelinda
- Monterone in Rigoletto
- Sarastro in The Magic Flute
- Banquo in Macbeth
- Nikitich in Boris Godunov
- Marquis d'Obigny in La traviata
- Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor
- The title role in Don Pasquale
- Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola
- Rocco in Fidelio
- Daland in The [Flying Dutchman (opera)|The Flying Dutchman]
- Nilakantha in Lakme
- Timur in Turandot
- Bartolo in The Barber of Seville
- Sacristan in ''Tosca''
In concert and recital
Ruminski's concert and recital performances have included, among others:- Solo recital, including the world premiere of six songs set to poems by Charles Bukowski
- Handel's Messiah, as bass soloist
- Shostakovich's Song of the Forests, as bass soloist
- Beethoven's 9th Symphony, as bass soloist
Recordings
Ruminski's recordings include:- A Night at the Opera: Favourite opera arias, duets and ensembles – Mariusz Kwiecien, Valerian Ruminski. Matthew Polenzani, Kristine Jepson, Indra Thomas; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Rosenkrans. CD 2004. Label: Naxos
- I Puritani – Anna Netrebko, Eric Cutler, Franco Vassallo, John Relyea, Valerian Ruminski ; Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Patrick Summers. DVD 2007. Label: Deutsche Grammophon
- Victor Herbert: Collected Songs – various artists. CD 2012. Label: New World Records