Ryan McKinny Returns to HGO • May 2023
Houston, Texas
American bass-baritone Ryan McKinny’s return to Houston Grand Opera as Jochanaan (John the Baptist) in Salome was a resounding critical success. As a former Studio Artist in Houston, McKinny considers HGO one of his home companies. He’ll return in the 23/24 season as Amfortas in Wagner’s Parsifal and Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Behind The Scenes: in preparation for his character’s first scene, Ryan visited America’s only extant cistern to hear what Jochanaan would actually sound like in such a cavernous space.
Photo by Michael Bishop / Houston Grand Opera
Critical Acclaim
Photo by Michael Bishop / Houston Grand Opera
“No wonder that Salome found John the Baptist’s flights of oratory so arresting. Ryan McKinny thundered them out in voluminous tones — not only secure and commanding at the top, but dark and sturdy below."
–Texas Classical Review
“Could there be a more visually attractive Jokanaan than Ryan McKinny? Solid and muscular, he's perfect in the role. His voice is an instrument of awe and immense dignity.”
–Houston Press
“Jokanaan’s booming voice — no problem whatsoever for McKinny’s commanding bass-baritone. [He] denounces the princess as forcefully as he did her mother before her, his humanity surfacing only in the fleeting moments temptation flickers across his heavily bearded face.”
–Houston Chronicle
“McKinny delivered Jokanaan’s rants with a voluminous bass-baritone that was strong both high and low.”
–Opera Canada