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
Special: Ryan Opera Center Rising Stars in Concert
June 9, 2024, 5:00 pm
A showcase performance by The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center 2023/24 Ensemble with the Lyric Opera Orchestra conducted by Stefano Sarzani.
Duo Recital: Ann Toomey and Christopher Kenney
March 3, 2019
Soprano, Ann Toomey and baritone, Christopher Kenney are featured in a program featuring a wide variety of composers and sounds.
“The Old Maid and the Thief”
February 3, 2019
The Ryan Opera Center presents Gian Carlo Menotti's radio opera, The Old Maid and the Thief. A one-act opera in where, the middle-aged spinster Miss Todd, who spends most of her days simply knitting and gossiping with fellow spinster Miss Pinkerton, has her world turned upside-down when a beggar knocks at her door one rainy afternoon.
Duo Recital: Whitney Morrison and Ricardo José Rivera
January 6, 2019
Soprano Whitney Morrison will sing Samuel Barber's lush and textured Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and baritone Ricardo José Rivera will perform three songs from Gustav Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn, a collection of beautiful German folk poems.
Duo Recital: Mario Rojas and Christopher Kenny
December 2, 2018
Tenor, Mario Rojas and baritone Christopher Kenny are showcased in this recital that reflects on the patriotism and adversity of World War I.
Duo Recital: Lauren Decker and David Weigel
November 4, 2018
Music of Schubert, Mahler, and Ibert are performed by contralto Lauren Decker, bass-baritone David Weigel, and pianist Madeline Slettedahl on this Ryan Opera Center Recital. They also perform a the duet “A Little Priest”, Steven Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. Host Colin Ure, sits down with Lauren and David to speak about what put them on their path to become a opera ...
Duo Recital: Emily Pogorelc and Eric Ferring
October 7, 2018
First year members soprano, Emily Pogorelc and tenor Eric Ferring are featured in this recital with music by Schumann, Strauss, Ben Moore and Lee Hoiby.
Ensemble Recital (Rebroadcast)
September 2, 2018
The entire Ryan Opera Center ensemble is featured in a program pairing beautiful contemporary opera arias with beloved classics. From Daniel Catán's "Florencia en el Amazonas" to Donizetti's "Elixir of Love" and Ricky Ian Gordon's "The Grapes of Wrath" to Strauss's "Der Rosenkavalier" this program will showcase the talents of these young artists.
Duo Recital: Ann Toomey and Mario Rojas (Rebroadcast)
August 5, 2018
Soprano, Ann Toomey and tenor, Mario Rojas are the featured singers in a program featuring music from Mexico, Germany, and America.
Duo Recital: Whitney Morrison and Takaoki Onishi (Rebroadcast)
July 1, 2018
Soprano, Whitney Morrison and baritone, Takaoki Onishi are the featured singers in a program featuring beautiful songs from the 20th century.
Operatic Scenes
June 3, 2018
Featured on this Ryan Opera Center Recital are scenes from some of the most famous operas. Included are works by Verdi, Mozart, Poulenc, and Puccini.
Ensemble Recital
May 6, 2018
The entire Ryan Opera Center ensemble is featured in a program pairing beautiful contemporary opera arias with beloved classics.
Duo Recital: Ann Toomey and Mario Rojas
April 1, 2018
Soprano, Ann Toomey and tenor, Mario Rojas are the featured singers in a program featuring music from Mexico, Germany, and America.
Duo Recital: Whitney Morrison and Takaoki Onishi
March 4, 2018
Soprano, Whitney Morrison and baritone, Takaoki Onishi are the featured singers in a program featuring beautiful songs from the 20th century.
Waltzes
February 4, 2018
The Ryan Opera Center presents a collection of old and new waltzes in an ensemble program.
Duo Recital: Emmett O’Hanlon and Patrick Guetti
January 7, 2018
Songs of Purcell and Brahms are paired with music by Gene Sheer and the classic Irish tune "O Danny Boy" on this recital. Performing will be Emmett O'Hanlon and Patrick Guetti.
Duo Recital: Ann Toomey and Lindsay Metzger
December 3, 2017
Soprano Ann Toomey and mezzo-soprano Lindsay Metzger perform works of Debussy, Poulenc, Caplet, and Weill and together will perform a duet by Chasusson.
Duo Recital: Lauren Decker and Alan Higgs
November 5, 2017
Ryan Opera Center contralto, Lauren Decker will perform Edward Elgar’s atmospheric song-cycle Sea Pictures and bass-baritone, Alan Higgs will sing works by Mozart, Gershwin, and Barber.
Duo Recital: Diana Newman and Josh Lovell
October 1, 2017
Ryan Opera Center tenor Josh Lovell performs works by Kurt Weill, Benjamin Britten, and Sigmund Romberg and Diana Newman will sing Tom Cipullo’s song cycle How to Get Heat Without Fire and three American popular songs.
Duo Recital: Alec Carlson & Emmett O’Hanlon
June 4, 2017
Our next Ryan Opera Center recital brings us the voices of tenor Alec Carlson and baritone Emmett O’Hanlon. Mr. Carlson will be singing “Morire” (“To die”) from Puccini’s La rondine and a song cycle by living American composer Tom Cipullo based on poems by Billy Collins. Mr. O’Hanlon will be performing Lee Hoiby’s dramatic and poignant “Last Letter Home,” we will also ...
Operatic Rarities
May 7, 2017
The Ryan Opera Center takes on rarely heard operatic music in a program featuring the many different voices of the ensemble. Music of Mozart and Korngold are highlighted as well as Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Joining the singers will be pianists Craig Terry and Mario Antonio Marra.