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"Hai già vinta la causa...vedrò mentr'io sospiro" - Le Nozze di Figaro (W.A.Mozart)
NEUE STIMMEN

"Hai già vinta la causa...vedrò mentr'io sospiro" - Le Nozze di Figaro (W.A.Mozart)

Upcoming Engagements

The Story of Billy Budd,  Sailor

Billy Budd

La Cenerentola
Dandini
July 5th/7th/8th/10th, 2025

Benjamin Britten - musical adaptation by Oliver Leith

Stage Direction - Ted Huffman

Conductor - Finnegan Downie Dear

September 27th/October 3rd/5th, 2025

Gioachino Rossini

Stage Direction - Michael Shell

Conductor - Gary Thor Wedow

Lyric Opera Chicago 

Carmina Burana
Baritone Soloist
Così fan Tutte
Guglielmo
The Marriage of Figaro
Count Almaviva
November 14th/16th/18th, 2025

Carl Orff

Conductor - Enrique Mazzola

February 1st/4th/7th/10th/13th/15th, 2026

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Revival Director - Roy Rallo/Original Director - Michael Cavanagh

Conductor - Enrique Mazzola
 

May - June, 2026

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Stage Direction - Sir Thomas Allen

Conductor - Dane Lam & Susannah Wapshott (2, 4 & 6 Jun 2026)

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About Me

Ian Rucker is a baritone from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He recently finished his tenure as part of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center. He was featured at Lyric as Moralés in Carmen, and Man in Bar in Champion. As a cover, Ian has jumped in as Conte Almaviva in the final dress of Le Nozze di Figaro, Raimbaud in Le Comte Ory, and the Stařek in Jenůfa. He also portrayed Schaunard in Lyric’s production of La Bohème in 2025. Before being a part of the Ryan Opera Center, he was an apprentice artist with Palm Beach Opera for their 60th anniversary season, as well as a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Summer Music Festival. It was at both of these programs that he was able to work with many well-renowned performers, teachers, coaches, and conductors in the opera, classical music, and musical theatre community. lan graduated with his Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in 2021. An avid performer there - under the tutelage of Carol Vaness - he was featured as Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro in 2019, Figaro in The Barber of Seville in 2020, and Papageno in The Magic Flute in September of 2021. During his undergrad at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, under the instruction of Kenneth Pereira, he performed roles in both Opera and Musical Theatre productions: The title roles in both Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd, and Officer Lockstock in Urinetown. He was awarded as a finalist of the 2024 NEUE STIMMEN competition by Dominique Meyer and Evamaria Wieser. Other competition credits include: Encouragement Awards for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition in both the Wisconsin and Georgia District, 1st place in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition, and 2nd in the Opera Mississippi John Alexander National Vocal Competition.

Neue Stimmen Award Winners Concert 5/21/25

Portrait Session 10/27/24

Le Nozze di Figaro Final Dress - Lyric Opera of Chicago 11/6/24

PC  Liz Lauren

Don Giovanni - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire May 2019

La Bohème

Lyric Opera of Chicago 2025

"It’s not often one walks out of a Bohème performance dazzled by the Schaunard. Ian Rucker, a third-year Ryan Center member from Oshkosh, displayed a big, warm-toned baritone, natural ease, and charismatic stage presence." 

-Lawrence A. Johnson, Chicago Classical Review

"Also notably delightful are two members of Rodolfo’s crew - philosopher Colline (Peixin Chen) and musician Schaunard (Ian Rucker), who are entertaining as actors along with excellent singing."

-Bill Esler, Buzz Center Stage

"Ryan Opera Center (of the Lyric Opera) Ensemble member Ian Rucker as the musician Schaunard has a lustrous baritone voice, and is a joy to watch in the finale as a would-be ballerina."

-Debra Davy, Splash Mags 

Previous Engagements and Education

Lies Askonas Fellow with Askonas Holt under Artist Manager Angelica Conner. Learn more here

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