By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo has never been a hard core opera town. But it was once home to the Greater Buffalo Opera Company for 12 years. It folded in 1997. However, one of the former apprentices says his time with the local opera company was instrumental in launching his national and international career. And now he's helped to establish a new local opera company -- Nickle City Opera in Buffalo.
Valerian Ruminski is an award winning opera singer. His rich bass voice has garnered him numerous roles with major opera companies, such as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, Santa Fe and New Israeli Opera. The Cheekotwaga native is a graduate of Canisius High School and UB. He also attended the Academy of Vocal Arts.
Ruminski will be singing locally this weekend at an Adoption Healing Mass at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna Saturday morning at 10:00.
Click the "listen" icon above to hear Eileen Buckley's interview with Valerian Ruminski.