Born and raised in Chatham, Ontario, Canadian tenor Ryan Nauta has earned acclaim for his “sparkling vocal prowess” (Opera Canada) and has been named “one to watch” (Le Devoir). Ryan recently was acclaimed in Opera 5’s Toronto Opera Festival as Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi and as the tenor soloist in the world premiere of Parelios, by composer Cecilia Livingston.
As a recent graduate of the McPhee Development Program with Calgary Opera, his stage credits include Jan in Janáček’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared, Ambrogio in The Barber of Seville, the Notary in Don Pasquale, and as the Minister and Chauffeur in Nino Rota’s The Witty Squirrel, as well as covering the role of Goro in Madama Butterfly. Additional recent highlights include Olaf in Gisela in her Bathtub and Romeo in City Workers in Love at Western University in tribute to director and librettist Michael Cavanagh, St. Brioche in The Merry Widow at Highlands Opera Theatre and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni through the Banff Centre’s collaboration with the National Arts Centre. Other credits include First Armoured Man (The Magic Flute), Albert Herring (Albert Herring), Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and Monostatos (The Magic Flute).
An active concert soloist, Ryan has performed major works such as Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, and Charpentier’s Messe de minuit, alongside repertoire by underrepresented composers including Ramírez’s Misa Criolla and Zelenka’s Missa votiva. His commitment to art song has led to his studies in 2019 at the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Baden-bei-Wien, Austria.
Ryan holds degrees from McGill University and Western University. He is a recipient of numerous scholarships, including awards from the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada and the Art Song Foundation of Canada.
In his personal time, he enjoys reading and caring for his overwhelming plant collection.
Media
Fauré: La Bonne Chanson
Nate Ben Horin, piano
Spears: Timothy’s aria (Last night…) from Fellow Travelers
