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As
the Count in Il Trovatore:
“But Mark Rucker's full-throated Count di Luna was the only notable plus in the National Series cast...Rucker was making his Miami debut. He displayed a dark lyric baritone that took 'Il Balen' in supple stride, and he also gave a manly impersonation of the malevolent Luna.”
- Miami Herald
“Mark Rucker made a convincing Count di Luna.”
- Opera News
“Mark Rucker's Count di Luna exhibited a fine sense of Verdi Style.”
- Musical America
“As the villainous Count di Luna baritone Mark Rucker is excellent. Given leisurely support from conductor Dejan Savie, Rucker turns in a characterful Act 2 Il Balen.”
- Sunday Times (Ireland)
“Mark Rucker is a quite powerful Count.”
- Irish Times
As the High Priest in Samson et Dalila:
“Rucker's High Priest was a standout performance. He declaimed his part so well he actually outsang Dalilah in their duet, which is hard for a baritone to do.”
- The Oregonian
“Dagon High Priest Mark Rucker sang with forthright tone and was most effective in the second act duet with Paunova.”
- Opera Canada
As Sharpless in Madama Butterfly:
“As the American consul Sharpless, baritone Mark Rucker impressed with his rich voice and authoritative portrayal.”
- The Hartford Courant
“Mark Rucker as Sharpless, the U.S. Consul to Nagasaki, sang with opulent tone and dramatic intensity. Baritones don't get any better than this. His Sharpless was compassionate and sympathetic, not stiff and wooden as some.”
- Springfield (MA) Union-News
“And the role of Sharpless, Pinkerton's American confident and consul, was magnificently performed by Mark Rucker.”
- Ansonia (CT) Evening Sentinel
As Giacomo in Giovanna d'Arco:
“For many listeners, however - including this one - the unexpected highlight of the evening was the mastery of baritone Mark Rucker who dominated the stage with his imposing vocal sonority and dramatic muscle whenever he appeared. With a weighty-yet-fluid voice that is ideal for Verdi repertoire, Rucker brought to the role of Giacomo an electrifying heroism that was merely intensified by keen sense of dramatic understatement.”
- Scottsdale Progress
As
Stankar in Stiffelio:
“The star of this opera evening was
neither on the stage nor in the orchestra pit. The revival of Verdi’s
“Stiffelio” became, at the state opera, the unexpected triumph for a
singer, that did not act the role in this evening at all: Mark Rucker
was at the edge of stage and sang Stankar from a music stand …
The big aria of Stankar at the beginning of the third act was one of
those moments, which constitutes the wonder of opera. Owing to the
strength of the music, the magic of the moment and vocal intensity, Mark
Rucker was able to construct excitement. Cheers of jubilation.”
- Wiener Zeitung, 11 February 2009
“The strongest and most consistent singer in the cast was Mark Rucker, a baritone, as Stankar.”
- The New York Times
“The best singing of the evening comes from Mark Rucker, who retains the rich sound and forthright vocal style that impressed in OCP's Un Ballo in Maschera three seasons ago. He fashioned an imposing performance of Stankar, the count who plays his daughter's paramour.”
- Camden Courier-Post
belshazzar's feast
Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast:
“The baritone soloist, firm and dark of tone, was the excellent Mark Rucker.”
- The Baltimore Sun