Valerian Ruminski (born 1967) 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 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.Vogel, Charity and Goldman, Mary Kunz (20 January 2002). "Buffalo's Opera Man is Making Some Noise". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 29 October 2017.

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. "Operatic bass captures top MacAllister Award". The Indianapolis Star , p. 38. Retrieved 31 October 2017.Richard Tucker Music Foundation. "Richard Tucker Career Grant Winners 1981-2016". Retrieved 30 October 2017.Baxter, Robert (9 April 2000). "Something to Sing About", pp. 91–92. Courier-Post. Retrieved 29 October 2017.Lincoln Center. Martin E. Segal Awards Recipients. Retrieved 29 October 2017.

He made his Metropolitan Opera debut on 17 January 2001 as Zuniga in Bizet's Carmen, later performing also as Gualtiero in I puritani (2006–2007) and Nikitich in Boris Godunov (2010–2011).Metropolitan Opera Archives. Ruminski, Valerian [Bass]. Retrieved 29 October 2017.

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."Am-Pol Eagle (11 May 2017). "Ruminski receives Opera America award, NCO prepares Roadshow Opera". Retrieved 29 October 2017.

Roles and opera companies Ruminski's opera performances have included, among others:

Skołuba in The Haunted Manor (Greater Buffalo Opera, 1997) Colline in La bohème (New York City Opera, 1999) Zuniga in Carmen (New York City Opera, 1999; Metropolitan Opera, 2001) Albert in La Juive (New Israeli Opera, 2000)O'Shea, Clare (Winter 2001). "Valerian Ruminski: An operatic life". UB Today. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Sparafucile in Rigoletto (New Israeli Opera, 2000) Ferrando in Il trovatore (Michigan Opera Theatre, 2002) Dottore Grenvil in La traviata (Santa Fe Opera, 2002)<ref>The Santa Fe New Mexican''' (19 July 2002). "Love in the Time of Opera", p. 94. Retrieved 29 October 2017.</ref> Fenicio in Ermione (Dallas Opera, 2003; New York City Opera, 2004)Weiss, Ursula (23 June 2003). "Rossini's Ermione was brought to life in a new production by Dallas Opera—vivid, vibrant life". Opera Canada. Retrieved 31 October 2017.Midgette, Anne (13 April 2004). "Long Buried, Rossini Work Rises to the Occasion". New York Times. Retrieved 29 October 2017. The King of Egypt in Aida (Opéra de Monte-Carlo, 2004; Florida Grand Opera, 2006)Colombeau, Christian (January 2004). "Monte-Carlo: Aida". Forumopera. Retrieved 30 October 2017 .Roca, Octavio (2 November 2006). "Vigorous Verdi". Miami New Times. Retrieved 30 October 2017. Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette (Opera Lyra, 2005) Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte (Seattle Opera, 2006)Murray, Mike (23 February 2006). "Seattle Opera stages Mozart’s ‘Cosi fan tutte’". The Herald. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Gualtiero in I puritani (Metropolitan Opera, 2006–2007) Licaone in Giove in Argo (concert performance, Avery Fisher Hall, 2008)Kozinn, Alann (30 April 2008). "Fast Times in Arcadia, via Handel". New York Times. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Garibaldo in Rodelinda (Portland Opera, 2008)Stabler, David (24 January 2008). "Flame-throwing Rodelinda". The Oregonian. Monterone in Rigoletto (Toledo Opera, 2008)Vallongo, Sally (9 November 2008). "Toledo Opera delivers well-balanced Rigoletto". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Sarastro in The Magic Flute (Opera Lyra, 2009; Opera Ireland, 2009)Bradshaw, James (17 September 2009). "NAC's Zukerman says he's caught the opera bug". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 30 October 2017. Banquo in Macbeth (Opera Ireland, 2009)Marx, Wolfgang (14 November 2009). "Review: Macbeth". Irish Theatre Magazine. Retrieved 30 October 2017. Nikitich in Boris Godunov (Metropolitan Opera, 2010–2011) Marquis d'Obigny in La traviata (concert performance, Vienna Musikverein, 2010)Vienna Musikverein Archives. Edita Gruberova: La traviata. Retrieved 30 October 2017 . Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor (Hawaii Opera Theatre, 2011) The title role in Don Pasquale (Hawaii Opera Theatre, 2012) Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola (Seattle Opera, 2013)Seattle Opera (2013). Program: La Cenerentola. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Rocco in Fidelio (Manitoba Opera, 2014) Daland in The Flying Dutchman (Calgary Opera, 2014)Opera America (2014). Calgary Opera: The Flying Dutchman. Retrieved 31 October 2017. Nilakantha in Lakme (Calgary Opera, 2015)Bonfield, Stephan (22 November 2015). "Calgary Opera's jewel Lakmé is a fine gem of a production". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Timur in Turandot (Manitoba Opera, 2015)Manitoba Opera (April 2015). Program: Turandot Bartolo in The Barber of Seville (Opera San Jose, 2016)Ho, Elijah (14 November 2016). "‘Barber of Seville’ is a thriller of an opera in San Jose". The Mercury News. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Sacristan in Tosca (Opéra de Montréal, 2017)Kaptainis, Arthur (17 September 2017). "Subtle touches in Opéra de Montréal's traditional Tosca". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 29 October 2017.

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 (Zipper Hall, 2000)Woodard, Josef (12 September 2000). "Bukowski's Sensitivity Emerges in Song". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 October 2017. Handel's Messiah, as bass soloist (Buffalo Philharmonic, 2002) Shostakovich's Song of the Forests, as bass soloist (Bard Music Festival, 2004)"Music Listings". New York Times. 22 August 2004. Retrieved 29 October 2017. Beethoven's 9th Symphony, as bass soloist (Buffalo Philharmonic, 2005; Honolulu Symphony. 2010)Buckley, Eileen (2 December 2005). "Opera Singer Comes Home to Sing with BPO". WBFO. Retrieved 29 October 2017.

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 (conductor). CD 2004. Label: NaxosI Puritani – Anna Netrebko (Elvira), Eric Cutler (Arturo), Franco Vassallo (Riccardo), John Relyea (Giorgio), Valerian Ruminski (Gualtiero); Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Patrick Summers (conductor). DVD 2007. Label: Deutsche GrammophonVictor Herbert: Collected Songs – various artists (Ruminski sings seven selections). CD 2012. Label: New World Records

References

External links Official site Ruminski, Valerian (1 September 2010) "Success often requires burning midnight oil". The Buffalo News''.