Named “the real showstopper” by the New York Times, two time Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green has quickly established himself as an artist of international demand at the world’s leading opera houses. Mr. Green’s 2023/24 season sees a number of important role debuts including as Heinrich der Vogler in Lohengrin, with both Deutsche Oper Berlin conducted by James Conlon, and Munich's Bavarian State Opera, the title role in Don Giovanni with Santa Fe Opera, and as Charles in Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut up in my Bones at the Metropolitan Opera, and as Wotan in Das Rheingold in concert with the LA Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Mr. Green also returns to hosting the Met Live in HD broadcast of Roméo et Juliette, which will be broadcast to cinemas around the world. Additional operatic appearances include Escamillo in Carmen at the Met, and his house debut with Staatsoper Hamburg as Varlaam in Boris Godunov, conducted by Kent Nagano. Concert work includes his debut with the Chicago Philharmonic in a special concert of arias and Beethoven Symphony Number 9 with the Colorado Symphony. On the recital stage Mr. Green appears with Austin Opera in a special recital that will be recorded and broadcast on PBS, a recital at the Ferguson Center in Virginia, and a continuation of his role as Artist in Residence with Florida State University for a series of master classes and a recital.
The 2022/23 season saw Mr. Green’s first leading role at the Metropolitan Opera starring as Emile Griffith in Terence Blanchard’s Champion, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and directed by James Robinson. Mr. Green also made his house debut at Opéra National de Paris singing Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, and his house debut at the Bavarian State Opera as Varlaam in Boris Godunov. He also returned to Washington National Opera to sing Ferrando in a new production of Il Trovatore and Orest in a new production of Elektra. Orchestral engagements included Kurwenal in Tristan und Isolde with the LA Philharmonic, his debut with the New York Philharmonic in the world premiere of a piece by Courtney Bryan written for him, Mussorgsky’s Songs and Dances of Death at Carnegie Hall with Daniele Rustioni conducting the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and excerpts from Blanchard’s Champion with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Chamber Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Mr. Green also appeared as a featured artist on the Richard Tucker Gala, and with the Peoria Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony Number 9. The academic season saw Mr. Green as an Artist in Residence with Florida State University, which included master classes with vocal students and a solo recital.
In the fall of 2016, Little, Brown published Sing for Your Life, by New York Times journalist Daniel Bergner. The book tells the story of Mr. Green’s personal and artistic journey: from a trailer park in southeastern Virginia and from time spent in Virginia’s juvenile facility of last resort to the Met stage. The New York Times Book Review called the book “one of the most inspiring stories I’ve come across in a long time,” and the Washington Post called it a “vital, compelling, and highly recommended book.” Sing for your Life has been honored with a number of recognitions including the New York Times bestseller and editor’s choice, a Washington Post Notable Book, and a Publishers Weekly Book of the Year.
Highlights of Mr. Green’s performances at the Metropolitan Opera include his breakout performance as Varlaam in Stephen Wadsworth’s new production of Boris Godunov, as Uncle Paul in Terrence Blanchard’s Fire Shut up in my Bones, his role debut as Jake in James Robinson’s new production of the Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess which won a Grammy Award, Colline in the iconic Zeffirelli production of La Bohème, and on a special concert to benefit Ukrainian refugees, singing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Additional highlights at the Met include the King in Aida, Oroe in Semiramide, Rambo in the premiere of The Death of Klinghoffer conducted by David Robertson, the Second Knight in a new production of Parsifal which was broadcast as part of the Met’s Live in HD program, the Bonze in Madama Butterfly, and the Jailer in Tosca.
Additional operatic highlights include his house debut with Washington National Opera as Escamillo in Carmen, directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by music director Evan Rogister, his house debut at Santa Fe Opera as Basilio in The Barber of Seville, Jake in Porgy and Bess with Theatre an der Wien, Ferrando in Il Trovatore with Opera de Lille’s traveling production, Third King in Die Liebe der Danae with the Salzburg Festival, his house and role debut as Osmin in the James Robinson production of The Abduction from the Seraglio at Houston Grand Opera, his house debut with Palm Beach Opera singing both Colline in La Bohème and the Speaker in The Magic Flute and his house and role debut as Escamillo in Carmen with Opera San Antonio.
At the Vienna State Opera, Mr. Green has been seen as Fasolt in Das Rheingold, Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville, Varlaam in Boris Godunov, Ferrando in Trovatore, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, and Banquo in Macbeth, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, the One-Armed Brother in Die Frau ohne Schatten, Sparafucile in a new production of Rigoletto, Lodovico in Otello, Angelotti in Tosca, Timur in a new production of Turandot, Peneios in Daphne, Fouquier-Tinville in Andrea Chénier, the Monk in Don Carlo, the Pope in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, and the King in Aida.
Orchestral appearances include Beethoven’s Symphony Number 9 with Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel at the Hollywood Bowl, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony at Vail, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the Florida Symphony and Norwalk Symphony Orchestras.
Additional orchestral appearances include his role debut as Rocco in Fidelio with the LA Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, Colline in La Bohéme at the Grand Teton Festival conducted by Donald Runnicles, his debut with the Mostly Mozart Festival singing Mozart’s Requiem with Louis Langrée, appearances with Tanglewood Festival for Verdi’s Requiem with the Tanglewood Music Festival conducted by Andris Nelsons, Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast with Bramwell Tovey conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Commendatore in a concert performance of Don Giovanni, appearing as featured soloist with San Diego Symphony for the opening of their new outdoor venue The Shell, a concert with Isabel Leonard at Austin Opera, which was broadcast on Austin PBS, his debut with the Brevard Music Festival singing Verdi’s Requiem, Strauss’s Daphne with the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by music director Franz Welser-Möst, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the Ravinia Festival conducted by Marin Alsop, an appearance with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for Bach’s Ich habe genug with the Orion String Quartet, Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Virginia Symphony, and Copland’s Old American Songs with Elgin Symphony.
Recital engagements include his debut at the Ravinia Festival with pianist Adam Nielsen, at the Terrace Theatre at the Kennedy Center as winner of the Marian Anderson Vocal Award from Washington National Opera, with the George London Foundation at the Morgan Library in New York, accompanied by Ken Noda, with Dayton Opera at the Schuster Performing Arts Center, with the Tryon Concert Association, Matinee Musicale Cincinnati, a recital and residency at University of Hartford Hartt School of Music, and a recital and residency at the Torggler Summer Vocal Institute at Christopher Newport University in his native Virginia.
Honors and awards include National Grand Finals winner of the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a 2014 George London Foundation Award, a 2014 Annenberg grant recipient, a 2014 Gerda Lissner Foundation First Prize winner, both the Richard and Sara Tucker Grants from the Richard Tucker Foundation, and a finalist in the Palm Beach Opera Competition. Mr. Green was also the first Artist in Residence for the Texas Opera Alliance, where he held masterclasses and community events for Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Austin Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Opera San Antonio.
A native of Suffolk, Virginia, Mr. Green received a Master of Music degree from Florida State University, a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music, and was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Mr. Green currently sits on the Board of Regents at University of Hartford.
Learn more at RyanSpeedoGreen.com.
