Artist Of The Week: Ryan Speedo Green To Steal The Show As Timur In Puccini’s ‘Turandot’

By Francisco Salazar

Last year was arguably Ryan Speedo Green’s biggest year as he broke out in the operatic world with his showstopping aria “Vecchia Zimarra” in Puccini’s “La Bohème” at the Metropolitan Opera. The bass made the most out his two minute aria and critics said that he was the most memorable performance of the night.

A star was essentially born.

This week he returns to Puccini in “Turandot,” a production he created last season. Speedo Green sings the role of Timur at the Vienna State Opera alongside Elena Pankratova, Anita Hartig and Stefano La Colla.

While Speedo Green has been a member of the Vienna State Opera ensemble, his return to the theater comes with extra hype and press. Like Colline in “La Bohème,” Timur is a small role but it is one that can be heart-wrenching and showstopping. If Speedo Green has taught audiences something, it’s that he can do very big things with small parts and that is what Vienna audiences should look forward to.

Speedo Green’s whirlwind season has also come with a book entitled “Sing for Your Life.” The book by Daniel Bergner depicts the bass’ turbulent childhood and how opera saved his life. The book has been heralded by critics and has also brought him much press including an interview on “CBS’s This Morning.”

For those not in Austria Speedo Green returns to the US for  his role and house debut as Escamillo in Bizet’s “Carmen” with Opera San Antonio. He will also be seen as Basilio in Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” with the Santa Cruz Symphony, conducted by music director Daniel Stewart.

Speedo Green is an award-winning singer who has been part of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Programon and was National Grand Finals winner of the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He also received awards from the George London Foundation Award, the Annenberg foundation, the Gerda Lissner Foundation and from the Richard Tucker Foundation. He was also a finalist in the Palm Beach Opera competition.

The bass has also performed with some of the most prominent orchestras including the Philadelphia, Cleveland, Boston, Florida and Virginia Symphonies.

 

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