| NICKEL
CITY OPERA began as a vision by Valerian Ruminski, one of the few singers to become
a living legacy of the former defunct Greater Buffalo Opera Company run by Gary
Burgess from 1986-1997. The
mission of NCO is to present fully staged operas in the month of June as a sort
of Summer Opera Festival. Two operas would be performed in the second and fourth
weeks of June bringing in talent from abroad, local talent and people from all
over as spectators. NCO
also plans to go to the schools in outreach, bring young talent from Buffalo into
the fold to learn the art of stagecraft and singing. Valerian
Ruminski, a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and of SUNY-Buffalo
is recognized as one of the most unique and versatile vocalists working in the
world of opera and classsical music today. A true basso cantante, his bold and
powerful vocal lyricism and remarkable coloratura has created world-wide recognition
for this exceptional talent. An
excellent musician and creative interpreter, he has performed with many of the
great opera companies in the US and abroad including The Metropolitan Opera, New
York City Opera, Dallas Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Miami Opera, Minnesota
Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Ireland, Opera de Montreal, Opera de Monte
Carlo, Birmingham Opera, and Festival de Belle-ile en Mer. He
can be heard on the Naxos label release of 'Night at the Opera' with other singers
who have debuted at the Metropolitan Opera. Valerian recently portrayed Lord Walton
in the highly acclaimed Metropolitan Opera high definition broadcast of ' I Puritani'
starring Anna Netrebko in 2007.
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