Artist Storytelling: Soprano Courtney Ruckman

(San Francisco, CA) -  Glad to have been connected to soprano Courtney Ruckman via Twitter and Instagram since 2015. Florida-based and a Nashville Opera Young Artist, I connected with Courtney through her weekly #singchat tweetups with opera singers from around the country and world.

So pleased to come across Courtney's recent video performance of 'Caro Nome' from Verdi's "Rigoletto," a favorite opera in my ongoing opera journey. My first exposure to this particular piece was through Santa Fe Opera's 2015 production, but I'd love to see Courtney in a fully staged production as Gilda; Courtney has already sung this role in Pacific Northwest Opera's 2013 production, Entertainment News NW saying, "you cannot help but fall in love with Courtney Ruckman as Gilda. Her voice quality was superb...her solos were magnificent." Courtney has also performed this role in preview scenes for Seattle Opera Guild (2014), and covered Gilda for Opera Coeur d'Alene (2013), respectively. Reached by direct message, Courtney added: "(Gilda) is a beloved role, I'm dying to sing it again! I offered (Caro Nome) for auditions, but hadn't performed (this particular piece) in almost two years. This video was a return after a break from singing it."

In June 2017, Courtney took her world-premiere role as Jessie in Nashville Opera's and American Opera Project's co-production of "Three Way" to New York City, for four (4) performances of this new work by composer Robert Paterson, with a libretto by David Cote.  Described as "'Sex and the City' meets 'Black Mirror'...this new opera imagines the present and future of sex and love."  Next season, Courtney's engagements include a solo turn in Handel's 'Messiah' with the Walla Walla Symphony. Brava, Courtney! Connect with Courtney on Twitter and Instagram, and visit CourtneyRuckman.com.  JM

Original version published May 23, 2017 on Instagram.