First Sundays at 5:00 pm
2025/26 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble (Photo: Kyle Flubacker)
Members of Lyric Opera of Chicago's professional artist-development program perform in recital each month.
The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center prepares emerging artists for careers in opera by providing unique, comprehensive training and performing experience. Established in 1974 the Ryan Opera Center is recognized as one of the premier programs of its kind in the world.
Starting in October, this unique monthly Recital Series showcases Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members performing a wide variety of repertoire. Each program includes one or more selections by composers of color. Special thanks to Julie and Roger Baskes for their ongoing sponsorship of the series. To find out more about the Ryan Opera Center visit: lyricopera.org/ryanoperacenter
There are no upcoming broadcasts at the moment.
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.
Neapolitan Music
April 2, 2017
Take a trip to Naples, Italy with a program of Neapolitan music that was arranged by Ryan Opera Center pianist, Mario Antonio Marra. Featuring a variety of voices from the Ryan Opera Center the program will feature music by Gaetano Donizetti, Paolo Tosti, Roberto Falvo, and Ernesto de Curtis. Join us for this colorful and passionate program of Neapolitan music.
Duo Recital: Annie Rosen and Patrick Guetti
February 5, 2017
Mezzo-soprano Annie Rosen and bass Patrick Guetti are accompanied by guest pianist Alan Darling. Annie sings a set of songs by Russian composer Nicolai Medtner which are based on the poetry of Goethe. While Patrick performs songs by Jacques Ibert about the legendary character Don Quixote. Together, they sing a pair of duets by Brahms.
Duo Recital: Jonathan Johnson & Takaoki Onishi
January 1, 2017
Our recital this week begins with the duet “Mimi, tu piu non torni” from Puccini’s La boheme. It features the talents of Ryan Opera Center tenor, Jonathan Johnson and baritone Takaoki Onishi. Also on the program, Mr. Onishi will be taking on Gustav Mahler’s acclaimed song-cycle, Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen or Songs of a Wayfarer. And Mr. Johnson will be singing four songs from 19th century ...
Duo Recital: Hlengiwe Mhkwanazi & Mingjie Lei
December 4, 2016
Songs by Henry Purcell, Richard Strauss, and John Carter will be performed on the next recital. Our singers this week have come a long way from home to be part of Ryan Opera Center. From South Africa, we have soprano Hlengiwe Mhkwanazi, and from China, tenor Mingjie Lei. They will be accompanied by Craig Terry on piano and will also ...
Trio Recital: Ann Toomey, Jesse Donner, and Mario Antonio Marra
November 6, 2016
In this recital, hear soprano Ann Toomey, tenor Jesse Donner, and pianist Mario Antonio Marra. Jesse and Mario perform one of the great songs of the 19th century, Franz Schubert’s famous ballad Der Erlkönig. Also, Mario and Ann perform a piece from Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona’s zarzuela, Maria La O.
Duo Recital: Lindsay Metzger and Bradley Smoak
October 2, 2016
On in this recital, hear mezzo-soprano Lindsay Metzger and bass-baritone Bradley Smoak. Bradley performs one of the earliest examples of a 19th century German art song with Beethoven’s “An die ferne Geliebte” (“To my beloved, far away”). Lindsay sings and speaks about Sibelius’ set of songs, Op. 37. And together they perform a duet from Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti. Ryan Opera Center music director Craig ...
