Pianist

Join us for an extraordinary evening celebrating The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s premier artist-development program.

Members of the Ryan Opera Center's 2025/26 Ensemble take the stage with the Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Lyric Music Director Enrique Mazzola, in this showcase performance.

Featuring selections from Donizetti’s Viva la mamma — a witty and irreverent comedy about the chaos of putting on an opera, complete with oversized personalities and a famously demanding stage mother — the evening also includes additional repertoire chosen to highlight the Ensemble’s wide-ranging talents.

Experience the artistry of tomorrow’s opera stars as they demonstrate the exceptional training that defines the Ryan Opera Center. Reserve your free seats today!

EPSG:4326

Rising Stars in Concert 2026

Lyric Opera House

Baritone Justin Austin, praised for his "mighty lyric voice" (NYT) and "intensity and charisma" (Opera), was named Rising Star of the Year at the 2024 International Opera Awards and is a recipient of the 2024 Marian Anderson Vocal Award, earning acclaim for his expressive artistry and immaculate musicianship.

Al Fresco: Justin Austin

Edwin J. Nieman Sr. House

Join us for an extraordinary evening celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s premier artist-development program.

This milestone concert features the 2024/25 Ensemble performing with members of the acclaimed Lyric Opera Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Enrique Mazzola and directed by Paul Curran.

The program will include selections from Jacques Offenbach’s opera Orpheus in the Underworld, a delightful and satirical masterpiece that reimagines the classic Greek myth with wit, charm, and Offenbach’s signature "can-can" music. The concert also features additional repertoire to showcase the Ensemble’s wide-ranging talents.

Rising Stars in Concert 50th Anniversary

Join us for an evening of beautiful music as artists from The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center perform a variety of favorites from the 2024/25 Season accompanied by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra and conducted by Lyric Music Director Enrique Mazzola. Featuring a special performance by Lyric Unlimited's new Artist-in-Residence, Karen Slack, this one-night-only concert under the stars is not to be missed

Sunday in the Park with Lyric

Millennium Park

Join us for an extraordinary evening celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s premier artist-development program.

Civic Opera House

The originally devised cabaret of thrilling music+theater that transports audiences to 1922 in an original story inspired by the politically charged Weimar German Republic and Berlin cabaret culture. The production uses the hall’s new 2022 upgrades of enhanced video and lighting technology, generously funded by the Hind Foundation.

Lehrer Vocal Institute Series: Hahn Hall 1922-2022 An Original Cabaret

Granada Theatre

Each concert in this new series takes the audience down a different path. In this showcase concert, Lehrer Vocal Institute fellows perform works by composer-in-residence Tom Cipullo.

Pianist

Michael Banwarth

Events

Past events

Apr 25, 2026

Rising Stars in Concert 2026 · Lyric Opera of Chicago

Aug 6, 2025

Al Fresco: Justin Austin · The Florentine Opera

Future and recently performed repertoire

Piano in Viva la Mamma by Donizetti

Lyric Opera of Chicago

About

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