First Sundays at 7:00 pm
Members of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s professional artist-development program perform.
The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center prepares emerging artists for careers in opera by providing unique, comprehensive training and experience. Established in 1974 as the professional artist-development program for Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Ryan Opera Center has been recognized as one of the premier programs of its kind in the world for nearly five decades.
The radio series features Ensemble members in recital throughout the year, showcasing a wide variety of repertoire. Each program in the 2023/24 season includes one or more selections by composers of color. To find out more about the Ryan Opera Center visit: lyricopera.org/ryanoperacenter
Mezzo-Soprano Sophia Maekawa, Bass Wm. Clay Thompson, and Pianist Michael Banwarth
April 7, 2024, 7:00 pm
Join us for a recital of eclectic songs with mezzo-soprano Sophia Maekawa and bass Wm. Clay Thompson.
Tenor Ryan Capozzo, Baritone Laureano Quant, Pianist Michael Banwarth, and Lyric Opera Orchestra String Quartet
March 3, 2024
Tenor Ryan Capozzo will be joined by string members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra for Ian Venables' Invite, to Eternity and Samuel Barber's Dover Beach. Baritone Laureano Quant along with pianist Michael Banwarth will perform music by Jules Massenet, Jaime León, and Frederico Moreno Torroba.
Soprano Kathryn Henry, Tenor Alejandro Luévanos, and Pianist Michael Banwarth
February 4, 2024
Kathryn Henry and Alejandro Luévanos are joined by pianist Michael Banwarth for a program with works by Claude Debussy and Gustav Mahler. We will also hear Alejandro in a song from Amadeo Vives’ passionate zarzuela Doña Francisquita and Kathryn will perform Richard Strauss’ glorious and transcendent Four Last Songs.
Pianists Michael Banwarth and Donald Lee III
January 7, 2024
The Ryan Opera Center pianists are featured in this all-instrumental program with works from JS Bach, Florence Price, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, and Frédéric Chopin.
Mezzo-Soprano Lucy Baker, Bass Ron Dukes, and Pianist Michael Banwarth
December 3, 2023
Songs inspired by the sea are featured in this recital.
Baritone Ian Rucker, Bass-Baritone Christopher Humbert, Jr., and Pianist Michael Banwarth
November 5, 2023
Music for low voices are featured in this wide-raging recital. With music by Gustav Mahler, Stephen Sondheim, H. Leslie Adams, and Cole Porter.
Tenor Travon D. Walker, Baritone Laureano Quant, and Pianist Michael Banwarth
October 1, 2023
Our recital features music from around the world including Italy, Germany, the US, and Spain. With works by Margaret Bonds, Ben Moore, Paolo Tosti, Richard Strauss, and Lerner and Loewe.
Soprano Kathryn Henry and Pianist Chris Reynolds
September 3, 2023
Music by Gene Scheer, Gaetano Donizetti, and Modest Mussorgsky.
Tenor Ryan Capozzo, Baritone Ian Rucker, Pianist Chris Reynolds
August 6, 2023
An eclectic program of songs exploring the joy and heartbreak of love.
Tenor Lunga Eric Hallam; Pianist Craig Terry
July 2, 2023
Music from Hallam's home country, South Africa, plus works by George Frideric Handel, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini, and Will Liverman.
Mezzo-soprano Katherine DeYoung, Pianists Chris Reynolds and Craig Terry, and Violinist John Macfarlane
June 4, 2023
Ryan Opera Center Members mezzo-soprano Katherine DeYoung and pianist Chris Reynolds are joined by Lyric Opera of Chicago violinist John Macfarlane and Ryan Opera Center’s Music Director, pianist Craig Terry, in an eclectic program of music by Richard Wagner, Vasyl Barvinsky, Stella Jang, and Marta Keen.
Tenor Alejandro Luévanos, Bass Ron Dukes, and Pianists Chris Reynolds and Donald Lee III
May 7, 2023
This recital features four members of the Patrick G. and Shirley Ryan Opera Center the tenor Alejandro Luévanos, bass Ron Dukes, and pianists Chris Reynolds and Donald Lee III. They perform a wide-ranging program with songs by the prolific 19th century Italian composer Paolo Tosti and Black American composers Cecil Cohen, Eugene W. Hancock, Charles Lloyd, Jr, Scott Joplin, HT ...
Soprano Kathryn Henry and Pianist Chris Reynolds
April 2, 2023
Our recital features first year Ryan Opera Center soprano Kathryn Henry along with third year pianist Chris Reynolds. Together they will perform music from Donizetti’s Anna Bolena and music of American songwriter Gene Sheer. Then, Chris Reynolds will perform one of the most beloved piano works in the repertoire, Modest Mussorgsky’s colorful Pictures at an Exhibition.
Soprano Denis Vélez and pianist Chris Reynolds
March 5, 2023
Opera favorites from Gounod, Mozart, Massenet, and Puccini are featured along with songs by Mexican composers Blas Galindo and Miguel Lerdo de Tejada.
Soprano Kathryn Henry, Baritone Laureano Quant, and Pianists Chris Reynolds and Donald Lee III
February 5, 2023
Two new voices to the Ryan Opera Center.
Soprano Lindsey Reynolds, Bass Wm. Clay Thompson, Pianists Chris Reynolds and Donald Lee III
January 8, 2023
Our recital features some opera favorites from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette and Faust as well as Verdi‘s Rigoletto. Soprano Lindsey Reynolds will be heard in André Previn’s moving Three Dickinson Songs — which was inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson — as well as music from the musical Cabaret. Bass Wm. Clay Thompson will be featured in John Jacob ...
Tenor Ryan Capozzo, Baritone Ian Rucker, Pianist Chris Reynolds
December 4, 2022
An eclectic program of songs exploring the joy and heartbreak of love.
Tenor Lunga Eric Hallam; Pianist Craig Terry
November 6, 2022
Music from Hallam's home country, South Africa, plus works by George Frideric Handel, Gaetano Donizetti, Vincenzo Bellini, and Will Liverman.
Tenor Martin Luther Clark; Pianist Donald Lee III
October 2, 2022
The 2022-23 Ryan Opera Recital Series begins with a program featuring third-year tenor Martin Luther Clark with the opera center's conductor/pianist, Donald Lee III.
Soprano Maria Novella Malfatti; pianists Chris Reynolds and Craig Terry; and clarinetist Susan Warner
September 4, 2022
Soprano Maria Novella Malfatti in a collection of songs by Victor Schertzinger, Charles Lloyd, Jr., Franz Schubert, and Vincenzo Bellini.
Bass Anthony Reed; Pianist Chris Reynolds; and String Bass Ian Hallas
August 7, 2022
Ryan Opera Center bass Anthony Reed along with Chris Reynolds on piano bring us a fascinating program of vocal bass works from the 16th to the 20th century.