“Simply irresistible…a voice that drips with gold.”
Opera News

Durch Mitleid wissend…
— Parsifal
 

American bass-baritone Ryan McKinny has earned his reputation as an artist with something to say. His relentless curiosity informs riveting character portrayals and beautifully crafted performances, reminding audiences of their shared humanity with characters on stage and screen.

Ryan believes the power of art lies in its relevance – that genuine connection can wake up a stagnant society to the possibilities of change. Ryan brings this clarity of vision to his work behind the camera, creating intimate films that bring stunningly beautiful and innovative performances to streaming audiences. With Helio Arts, he commissions artists to write, direct, and film original stories, leveraging his personal power to help elevate new voices and visions in the classical performing arts world.

Ryan’s commitment to transformative collaboration has led him to explore the potential of classical music in breaking down social barriers. He is a member of the President’s Leadership Council for Search for Common Ground, which works to end violent conflict through appeals to the shared human feelings on both sides, and has shared his musical expertise with Houston Grand Opera’s community outreach programs, including their prison empathy workshops.

 

Joseph De Rocher in Dead Man Walking
METROPOLITAN OPERA

“McKinny sang with figurative and literal muscular force, the source of a richly human performance. This precarious balancing act inspired revelatory singing…”

Washington Post

 

This season, Ryan McKinny brings his commanding bass-baritone and incisive characterization to the opening night of the Metropolitan Opera’s 23/24 season, starring opposite Joyce DiDonato and Susan Graham in Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s Dead Man Walking. In addition to an international radio broadcast, the opera will be simulcast to cinemas in more than 70 countries worldwide as part of the Met Live in HD series. He then makes a dual return to Houston Grand Opera, appearing as Amfortas in Parsifal and Leporello in Don Giovanni. McKinny closes the season with a three-city tour of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s new opera Before It All Goes Dark, commissioned by Music of Remembrance, with world premiere performances in Seattle, San Francisco, and Chicago.

 
 


NEXT ENGAGEMENT

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA

Leporello, Don Giovanni

April 19 – May 3, 2024 • Houston

Filmmaking

Ryan McKinny adapts the beauty of his art form to the film screen, collaborating on projects with artists like J’Nai Bridges, Jamie Barton, Russell Thomas, John Holiday, and Julia Bullock to create stunning and innovative performances for streaming audiences at Dallas Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, On Site Opera, and Helio Arts.

 
 

“Singing is most powerful to me when it’s deeply connected to our whole lives.”