Biography
Valentin Ruckebier has been a regular ensemble member at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein since 2024, having joined the opera studio in 2022. During his time there, he has performed a variety of roles, including Masetto in Don Giovanni, Sagrestano and Angelotti in Tosca, Speaker in The Magic Flute, Alessio in La Sonnambula, Poeta in Viva La Mamma, Hortensius in La Fille Du Regiment, and the High Priest in Hérodiade among others. In 2024, Ruckebier was awarded First Prize (Emmerich Smola Prize) at the SWR Young Opera Stars Competition. His recent guest engagements include performing as Sarastro in The Magic Flute at the Cairo Opera House in Egypt, singing in Tri Sestry by Péter Eötvös at Hagen Theatre and portraying a role in A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten at Pforzheim Theatre. He has also performed in several notable concert programmes, such as singing the bass solo in Norbert Laufer’s Der Weise at Tonhalle Düsseldorf, performing Schlegel-Lieder by Manfred Trojahn at Opera Düsseldorf and Luciano Berio’s Cries of London at Palais Wittgenstein. In 2021, Ruckebier debuted with Schöne Müllerin by Franz Schubert at the opening concert of the Ruhr Song Festival at Borbeck Castle and returned in 2024 to perform Winterreise.
In 2022, he won First Prize at the German National Singing Competition (Bundeswettbewerb Gesang) and was a finalist in the Walter and Charlotte Hamel Foundation competition in 2019.
Ruckebier’s musical journey began at the Remscheid Music and Art School, where he received early lessons in violin, piano, and composition. He also began singing lessons at the age of 10. He studied composition at the Robert Schumann University in Düsseldorf from 2014 to 2023, under the mentorship of Prof. Manfred Trojahn and Prof. Oliver Schneller. During the winter semester of 2017/18, he also began his singing studies at the RSH Düsseldorf, with Prof. Konrad Jarnot. Throughout his studies, he performed a variety of opera roles, including Colline in La Bohème, Tod in Kaiser von Atlantis and Betto in Gianni Schicchi to name a few.
Ruckebier has composed works that have been performed by renowned orchestras, ensembles, and soloists at various festivals and concert series. His compositions have earned numerous accolades, in 2021 he was appointed Artist-in-Residence at Beethovenhaus Bonn. His opera The Flight to Egypt was performed in 2021 and 2022 at the Teatro Comunale Luciano Pavarotti in Modena, Landestheater Linz and the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad.
In addition to his opera and orchestral engagements, Ruckebier regularly appears in lieder recitals and concert programmes, with a particular focus on contemporary music.
Repertoire
Opera/Operetta
Composer, Work
Composer
Opera/Operetta
Part
J. Adams, The Death of Klinghoffer
J. Adams
The Death of Klinghoffer
Rambo*
B. Bartók, Duke Bluebeard's Castle
B. Bartók
Duke Bluebeard's Castle
Duke Bluebeard*
V. Bellini, La Sonnambula
V. Bellini
La Sonnambula
Alessio
V. Bellini, I puritani
V. Bellini
I puritani
Giorgio*
A. Berg, Wozzeck
A. Berg
Wozzeck
Doktor*
A. Berg, Lulu
A. Berg
Lulu
Bankier*
H. Berlioz, La damnation de Faust
H. Berlioz
La damnation de Faust
Méphistophélès*
H. Berlioz, Les Troyens
H. Berlioz
Les Troyens
Panthée*
G. Bizet, La jolie fille de Perth
G. Bizet
La jolie fille de Perth
Ralph*
J. Bock, Anatevka
J. Bock
Anatevka
Fedja
B. Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream
B. Britten
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Snug/Lion
B. Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream
B. Britten
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Bottom*
B. Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream
B. Britten
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Theseus*
B. Britten, Death in Venice
B. Britten
Death in Venice
Bass roles*
L. Cherubini, Les deux journées/Der Wasserträger
L. Cherubini
Les deux journées/Der Wasserträger
Mikéli*
F. Cilea, Adriana Lecouvreur
F. Cilea
Adriana Lecouvreur
Prince de Bouillon*
P. M. Davies, The Lighthouse
P. M. Davies
The Lighthouse
Arthur*
G. Donizetti, Don Pasquale
G. Donizetti
Don Pasquale
Notaro
G. Donizetti, La fille du régiment
G. Donizetti
La fille du régiment
Alessio
G. Donizetti, L'elisir d'amore
G. Donizetti
L'elisir d'amore
Dulcamara*
P. Eötvös, Tri Sestry
P. Eötvös
Tri Sestry
Soljony
P. Eötvös, Angels in America
P. Eötvös
Angels in America
Roy Cohn*
U. Giordano, Fedora
U. Giordano
Fedora
Grech*
C. Gounod, Roméo et Juliette
C. Gounod
Roméo et Juliette
Capulet*
C. Gounod, Faust
C. Gounod
Faust
Méphistophélès*
G. F. Händel, Giulio Cesare
G. F. Händel
Giulio Cesare
Achilla*
G. F. Händel, Alcina
G. F. Händel
Alcina
Melisso*
G. F. Händel, Semele
G. F. Händel
Semele
Kadmos*
G. F. Händel, Semele
G. F. Händel
Semele
Somnus*
K. A. Hartmann, Simplicius Simplicissimus
K. A. Hartmann
Simplicius Simplicissimus
Bauer*
P. Hindemith, Mathis der Maler
P. Hindemith
Mathis der Maler
Lorenz (et al.)*
L. Janáček, The Cunning Little Vixen
L. Janáček
The Cunning Little Vixen
Parson*
L. Janáček, Káťa Kabanová
L. Janáček
Káťa Kabanová
Savel Dikoj*
E. Krenek, The Bell Tower
E. Krenek
The Bell Tower
Giovanni*
G. Kurtág, Fin de partie
G. Kurtág
Fin de partie
Hamm*
G. Ligeti, Le Grand Macabre
G. Ligeti
Le Grand Macabre
Astradamors*
B. Martinů, Ariane
B. Martinů
Ariane
Minotaur*
P. Mascagni, Le Maschere
P. Mascagni
Le Maschere
Pantalone de' Bisognosi*
J. Massenet, La Hérodiade
J. Massenet
La Hérodiade
Hohepriester
J. Massenet, Don Quichotte
J. Massenet
Don Quichotte
Don Quichotte*
G. C. Menotti, The Consul
G. C. Menotti
The Consul
Secret Police Agent*
O. Messiaen, Saint Francois d'Assise
O. Messiaen
Saint Francois d'Assise
Frère Bernard*
O. Messiaen, Saint Francois d'Assise
O. Messiaen
Saint Francois d'Assise
Frère Sylvestre*
C. Monteverdi, L'Orfeo
C. Monteverdi
L'Orfeo
Caronte*
C. Monteverdi, L'Orfeo
C. Monteverdi
L'Orfeo
Plutone*
C. Monteverdi, Il ritorno d'Ulisse
C. Monteverdi
Il ritorno d'Ulisse
Il Tempo*
W. A. Mozart, Don Giovanni
W. A. Mozart
Don Giovanni
Commendatore
W. A. Mozart, Don Giovanni
W. A. Mozart
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni*
W. A. Mozart, Don Giovanni
W. A. Mozart
Don Giovanni
Leporello*
W. A. Mozart, Die Zauberflöte
W. A. Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
Sarastro
W. A. Mozart, Die Zauberflöte
W. A. Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
1. Priester/Sprecher
W. A. Mozart, Die Zauberflöte
W. A. Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
2. Geharnischter
W. A. Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro
W. A. Mozart
Le nozze di Figaro
Figaro*
W. A. Mozart, Così fan tutte
W. A. Mozart
Così fan tutte
Don Alfonso*
W. A. Mozart, Così fan tutte
W. A. Mozart
Così fan tutte
Guglielmo*
K. Penderecki, Die Teufel von Loudun
K. Penderecki
Die Teufel von Loudun
Barré*
J. Peri, Euridice
J. Peri
Euridice
Caronte*
J. Peri, Euridice
J. Peri
Euridice
Plutone*
A. Ponchielli, La Gioconda
A. Ponchielli
La Gioconda
Alvise Badoero*
S. Prokofjev, The fiery angel
S. Prokofjev
The fiery angel
Ruprecht/Ronald*
S. Prokofjev, The fiery angel
S. Prokofjev
The fiery angel
Johann Faust*
S. Prokofjev, War and Peace
S. Prokofjev
War and Peace
Mikhail Kutuzov*
S. Prokofjev, War and Peace
S. Prokofjev
War and Peace
Ilja Rostow*
S. Prokofjev, The Love for Tree Oranges
S. Prokofjev
The Love for Tree Oranges
Chelio*
S. Prokofjev, The Love for Tree Oranges
S. Prokofjev
The Love for Tree Oranges
Farfarello*
S. Prokofjev, The Love for Tree Oranges
S. Prokofjev
The Love for Tree Oranges
Leandro*
G. Puccini, La bohème
G. Puccini
La bohème
Colline
G. Puccini, Gianni Schicchi
G. Puccini
Gianni Schicchi
Betto Di Signa
G. Puccini, Gianni Schicchi
G. Puccini
Gianni Schicchi
Simone
G. Puccini, Tosca
G. Puccini
Tosca
Angelotti
G. Puccini, Tosca
G. Puccini
Tosca
Sagrestano*
G. Puccini, Tosca
G. Puccini
Tosca
Sciarrone
G. Puccini, Turandot
G. Puccini
Turandot
Timur*
G. Puccini, La fanciulla del West
G. Puccini
La fanciulla del West
Ashby*
H. Purcell, King Arthur
H. Purcell
King Arthur
Cold Genius*
H. Purcell, King Arthur
H. Purcell
King Arthur
Grimbald*
H. Purcell, The Fairy Queen
H. Purcell
The Fairy Queen
Sleep*
J. P. Rameau, Platée
J. P. Rameau
Platée
Momus*
J. P. Rameau, Platée
J. P. Rameau
Platée
Satire*
J. P. Rameau, Platée
J. P. Rameau
Platée
Jupiter*
J. P. Rameau, Castor et Pollux
J. P. Rameau
Castor et Pollux
Pollux*
M. Ravel, L'heure espagnole
M. Ravel
L'heure espagnole
Inigo Gomez*
A. Reimann, Lear
A. Reimann
Lear
France*
W. Rihm, Jakob Lenz
W. Rihm
Jakob Lenz
Oberlin*
G. Rossini, La Cenerentola
G. Rossini
La Cenerentola
Don Magnifico*
G. Rossini, Il barbiere di Siviglia
G. Rossini
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Basilio*
G. Rossini, Il barbiere di Siviglia
G. Rossini
Il barbiere di Siviglia
Bartolo*
K. Saariaho, Adriana Mater
K. Saariaho
Adriana Mater
Tsargo*
A. Schnittke, Gesualdo
A. Schnittke
Gesualdo
Alfonso*
F. Schreker, Die Gezeichenten
F. Schreker
Die Gezeichenten
Nardi*
F. Schreker, Der Schmied von Gent
F. Schreker
Der Schmied von Gent
Smee*
F. Schreker, Der Schmied von Gent
F. Schreker
Der Schmied von Gent
Alba*
F. Schreker, Der Schmied von Gent
F. Schreker
Der Schmied von Gent
Petrus*
S. Sciarrino, Perseo e Andromeda
S. Sciarrino
Perseo e Andromeda
Perseo I-II*
K. Stockhausen, Licht
K. Stockhausen
Licht
Luzifer*
R. Strauss, Daphne
R. Strauss
Daphne
Peneios*
R. Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos
R. Strauss
Ariadne auf Naxos
Truffaldin*
R. Strauss, Die Frau ohne Schatten
R. Strauss
Die Frau ohne Schatten
Geisterbote*
I. Stravinsky, The Rake's Progress
I. Stravinsky
The Rake's Progress
Trulove*
M. Trojahn, Was ihr wollt
M. Trojahn
Was ihr wollt
Sebastianos Freund*
P. I. Tschaikovski, Eugen Onegin
P. I. Tschaikovski
Eugen Onegin
Saretzkij
P. I. Tchaikovsky, Eugen Onegin
P. I. Tchaikovsky
Eugen Onegin
Gremin*
P. I. Tchaikovsky, Pique Dame
P. I. Tchaikovsky
Pique Dame
Namurov*
V. Ullmann, Der Kaiser von Atlantis
V. Ullmann
Der Kaiser von Atlantis
Tod
G. Verdi, Macbeth
G. Verdi
Macbeth
Medico
G. Verdi, Macbeth
G. Verdi
Macbeth
Apparizione
G. Verdi, Macbeth
G. Verdi
Macbeth
Servo, Sicario
G. Verdi, Macbeth
G. Verdi
Macbeth
Bancquo*
G. Verdi, Don Carlos
G. Verdi
Don Carlos
Inquisitor
G. Verdi, Simone Boccanegra
G. Verdi
Simone Boccanegra
Paolo Albiani*
G. Verdi, Forza Del Destino
G. Verdi
Forza Del Destino
Padre Guardiano*
G. Verdi, I Vespri Siciliani
G. Verdi
I Vespri Siciliani
Procida*
K. Weill, Mahagonny. Ein Songspiel
K. Weill
Mahagonny. Ein Songspiel
Jimmy
A. Zemlinsky, Kreidekreis
A. Zemlinsky
Kreidekreis
Tschu-tschu*
A. Zemlinsky, Der Zwerg
A. Zemlinsky
Der Zwerg
Don Estoban*
B. A. Zimmermann, Die Soldaten
B. A. Zimmermann
Die Soldaten
Obrist*
W. A. Mozart, Requiem
W. A. Mozart
Requiem
Bass soloist
G. Verdi, Requiem
G. Verdi
Requiem
Bass soloist
A. Dvořák, Stabat Mater
A. Dvořák
Stabat Mater
Bass soloist
*not yet performed on stage
Oratorio
Composer, Work
Composer
Work
Part
J. S. Bach, Weihnachtsoratorium
J. S. Bach
Weihnachtsoratorium
Bass soloist / Herodes
J. S. Bach, Johannespassion
J. S. Bach
Johannespassion
Jesus, Pilatus
J. S. Bach, Matthäuspassion
J. S. Bach
Matthäuspassion
Jesus, Pilatus
G. F. Händel, Messiah
G. F. Händel
Messiah
Bass soloist
F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Elias
F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Elias
Bass soloist
*not yet performed on stage
Concert and Lied
Composer, Work
Composer
Work
J. Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem
J. Brahms
Ein deutsches Requiem
L. Cherubini, Missa Solemnis II in d-Moll
L. Cherubini
Missa Solemnis II in d-Moll
G. Fauré, Requiem
G. Fauré
Requiem
R. Schumann, Faust-Szenen
R. Schumann
Faust-Szenen
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