“Simply irresistible…a voice that drips with gold.”
Opera News
“Durch Mitleid wissend…”
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 directorial work, creating intimate films that bring stunningly beautiful and innovative performances to streaming audiences. With Helio Arts, he has commissioned 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, McKinny appears on the big screen opposite Joyce DiDonato in Heggie and McNally’s Dead Man Walking for the Metropolitan Opera’s popular Summer HD Festival. He brings his commanding bass-baritone to a role debut as Jan Nyman in Mazzoli and Vavrek’s haunting contemporary opera Breaking the Waves at Houston Grand Opera, and and he makes company debuts at Ópera National de Chile and Des Moines Metro Opera as the title character in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman. Additional performances include Verdi’s Requiem with Colorado Symphony and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Toledo Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra.
NEXT ENGAGEMENT
DES MOINES METRO OPERA
Dutchman, The Flying Dutchman
June 27 – July 20, 2025• USA
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.
