Ryan MacPherson is one of the most in-demand young tenors of this generation. With a vast and growing repertoire, he is well-known for his captivating stage presence and his expertise with modern and contemporary music. During the upcoming 2010-2011 season Mr. MacPherson will reprise the role of Alfredo LA TRAVIATA at Opera Santa Barbara and Opera Tampa, a role he debuted to great acclaim at Glimmerglass Opera in 2009. This season will also see him return to Toledo Opera where he will perform as Tom Rakewell THE RAKE'S PROGRESS as well as appearing on the concert stage with the Rochester Philharmonic in Handel Messiah. A house favorite with Portland Opera, he debuted as Peter Quint THE TURN OF THE SCREW in the spring of 2009 and returned last season to perform two roles, Ferrando COSÌ FAN TUTTE and Heurtebise in Philip Glass' opera ORPHÉE, which has been made into a commercial recording.
Ryan MacPherson is one of the most in-demand young tenors of this generation. With a vast and growing repertoire, he is well-known for his captivating stage presence and his expertise with modern and contemporary music. During the upcoming 2010-2011 season Mr. MacPherson will reprise the role of Alfredo LA TRAVIATA at Opera Santa Barbara and Opera Tampa, a role he debuted to great acclaim at Glimmerglass Opera in 2009. This season will also see him return to Toledo Opera where he will perform as Tom Rakewell THE RAKE'S PROGRESS as well as appearing on the concert stage with the Rochester Philharmonic in Handel Messiah. A house favorite with Portland Opera, he debuted as Peter Quint THE TURN OF THE SCREW in the spring of 2009 and returned last season to perform two roles, Ferrando COSÌ FAN TUTTE and Heurtebise in Philip Glass' opera ORPHÉE, which has been made into a commercial recording.
Other highlights from Mr. MacPherson's 2009-2010 opera season included a debut with Nashville Opera as the Duke RIGOLETTO, a return to Lyric Opera Dublin as Pinkerton MADAMA BUTTERFLY and a return to Central City Opera as Pluto ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD. On the concert stage he triumphed in Handel Messiah with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, in Verdi Requiem also in Baltimore, and in Beethoven Ninth Symphony with the Lincoln Symphony.
Mr. MacPherson's 2008-2009 season began with the role of George Hancock MARGARET GARNER with Michigan Opera Theatre. He also performe the roles of Tamino THE MAGIC FLUTE with Florentine Opera and the title role in CANDIDE with Toledo Opera. In the summer of 2008 he made his debut with Glimmeglass Opera, stepping into the role of Luzio in one of Wagner's earliest operas DAS LIEBESVERBOT.
In the 2007-2008 season Mr. MacPherson returned to New York City Opera as the dubious character Anathol VANESSA and added the role of Don José CARMEN to his repertoire, with notable performances with Opera Memphis, Festival Opera of Walnut Creek and at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. He also made his company debut at the Opéra National de Paris (Bastille) as the Vision of a Young Man DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN, his role debut as Ruggero LA RONDINE with Sarasota Opera and performances of Don Ottavio DON GIOVANNI with Utah Opera. Mr. MacPherson ended the year 2008 with the New York Philharmonic where he was featured in performances of ELEKTRA under the baton of Maestro Maazel.
In 2007 Mr. MacPherson took the stage at the State Theatre with New York City Opera as Ferrando COSÌ FAN TUTTE and opened their previous season as Flamand CAPRICCIO after touring with the company in Japan as Laurie LITTLE WOMEN. He was recently recognized for his work with this company as recipient of the Richard F. Gold Career Award; honoring his contribution as a young artist to New York City Opera. Other notable roles from last season include Belmonte ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO with Michigan Opera Theatre, Luis THE GONDOLIERS with the Utah Symphony and Opera and roles in the concert productions of Zemlinsky's DER FERNE KLANG and Smyth's THE WRECKERS with the American Symphony Orchestra. Following quickly after he made debuts with Lyric Opera Kansas City repeating the role of Camille THE MERRY WIDOW and with Shreveport Opera in the title role of FAUST and the role of Hot Biscuit Slim PAUL BUNYAN with Central City Opera.
In 2003, Mr. MacPherson made his Opera Memphis debut as Rodolfo LA BOHÈME and in the spring of 2004 returned to sing the role of George Shannon in the world premiere of LEWIS AND CLARK. That summer he traveled to Long Beach Opera for Henry Morosus' DIE SCHWEIGSAME FRAU with Andreas Mitisek directing and returned to New York City Opera where he created the role of Iff the Water Genie in the world premiere of Charles Wuorinen's HAROUN, SEA OF STORIES and was heard by Opera Memphis audiences as Camille THE MERRY WIDOW.
He has toured the nation twice with San Francisco Opera's Western Opera Theatre Tour; once as Alfred DIE FLEDERMAUS and again as Ferrando COSÌ FAN TUTTE. He also created the roles of Reporter and Cardinal O'Connoll for the world premiere of Anton Coppola's SACCO AND VANZETTI for Opera Tampa. Other performance highlights include Roderigo OTELLO with Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Opera Omaha, Rinuccio GIANNI SCHICCHI with the Metro Lyric Opera of New Jersey, Sam SUSANNAH at the Aspen Music Festival.
Mr. MacPherson made his Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center debuts creating the role of Meriwether Lewis in Michael Ching's new opera CORPS OF DISCOVERY. Mr. MacPherson's oratorio engagements have included Stravinsky Renard, Ravel L'enfant et les Sortilèges, Haydn Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart Vesperae Solennes De Confessore and Requiem, and Handel Ode On St. Cecilia's Day and Messiah.
