Bass-baritone Ryan Kuster has been acclaimed for his “full and rich voice” (Dallas Observor), a “commanding stage presence” (Arts Knoxville) and is “at the beginning of an important career” (Opera Warhorses). He has most recently appeared as the Old Hebrew in Samson et Dalila and the Doctor in La traviata with The Dallas Opera, Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Virginia Opera, Pan in the workshop performance of The Tree of Eternal Youth with American Lyric Theater, and as the Bass Soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Marywood University.

Upcoming performances this season consist of his return to Opera Colorado with his debut of the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro and also his return to Virginia Opera to sing Carl Olsen in Street Scene.

Mr. Kuster is also recognized for his portrayal of Escamillo in Carmen with Florida Grand Opera, Opera Colorado, Virginia Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Knoxville Opera and Arizona Opera. Opera Today wrote that “Ryan Kuster gave a strong impression as the handsome and charismatic celebrity, Escamillo. The difficult tessitura of the Toreador Song seemed easy for him as he sang it to his fans at Lillas Pastia’s Tavern.” Colorado’s Daily Camera wrote, “Baritone Ryan Kuster possesses a swaggering virility in the role of Escamillo…. The character has the most famous of all the opera’s many great tunes, and Kuster’s delivery does not disappoint.” He has also performed La Tragédie of Carmen with San Diego Opera.

Recent highlights include Lysiart in von Weber’s Euryanthe with Bard Summerscape where the NY Observer said, “They were all fine, in particular Ryan Kuster, smoothly malevolent as the vicious Lysiart. His lithe bass-baritone never hardened even in the most frenzied outbursts, and the dark, noble timbre of the voice made his deception seem all the more plausible.” He also received notable mention for his rendition of the title role in Opera Memphis’ Don Giovanni. “Ryan Kuster’s well-voiced Don
Giovanni was charming, arrogant and thoroughly disgusting. Kuster presented a psychologically fascinating character, in love only for as long as he needed to be, supremely confident, unafraid, unencumbered by regrets, witty and quick-witted enough to escape a multitude of compromising situations.” (The Commercial Appeal)

Mr. Kuster’s other operatic performances include of Masetto in Don Giovanni with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (directed by Christopher Alden, with costumes by Rodarte, and led by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel), Arizona Opera and Cincinnati Opera; Angelotti in Tosca with Dallas Opera, Pacific Symphony,
Madison Opera, Orlando Philharmonic and Annapolis Opera; the Mandarin in Turandot with Dallas Opera; Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Opera Saratoga and Nashville Opera; Colline in La bohème with Arizona Opera and Charleston Opera; Sam in Trouble in Tahiti with Opera Santa Barbara; Don Basilio in Marco
Portugal’s Marriage of Figaro with On Site Opera; and Marullo in Rigoletto with San Antonio Opera.

On the concert stage, Mr. Kuster has performed the Messiah with the Milwaukee Symphony; Bach’s St. Matthew Passion with Boulder Philharmonic; Brutamonte in Schubert’s hidden gem, Fierrabras, for the Bard Music Festival; Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the National Symphony Orchestra (debut) and North State Symphony; Fauré’s Requiem with the Bucks County Symphony; the Mozart Requiem with the Neumann College Choir; the title role of Händel’s oratorio Saul with the Marsh Chapel Choir and Collegium; and Adam in Haydn’s The Creation with the Boston University Symphonic Chorus. He also appeared as a featured soloist with Dallas Opera’s Institute for Women Conductors, North State Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Ocean City Pops, New Jersey Master Chorale, and Concert Operetta Theater of Philadelphia.

In 2011 and 2012 Kuster was a member of the prestigious Adler Fellowship Program with San Francisco Opera, where he gained vast attention and accolades on the west coast for his 59 mainstage performances in 2 fall seasons. At San Francisco Opera he performed Masetto (Leporello cover) in Don Giovanni, Escamillo in SFO’s Carmen for Families, Mozart’s Requiem, Astolfo in Lucrezia Borgia, the Mandarin in Turandot, Angelotti/Jailer in Tosca, 4th Noble in Lohengrin, and Count
Ceprano in Rigoletto. Mr. Kuster is also on the DVD release of SFO’s production of Lucrezia Borgia with Renée Fleming. His relationship with San Francisco Opera began when he joined the Merola Program, where he appeared as Garibaldo in Rodelinda, Don Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Dr. Cajus in Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor in the Schwabacher Scenes Program.

Mr. Kuster has been very successful on the competition circuit, recently being awarded 1st place for the Igor Gorin Award. He also sung on the Metropolitan Opera stage as a National Council Semi-Finalist, received a 3rd place prize in the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition, received a Grant from the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Competition, the Harmon Award from Chautauqua Opera, and was given the Encouragement Award in the Philadelphia region of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Mr. Kuster’s Young Artist credits include Wolf Trap Opera, Oberlin in Italy, Chautauqua Opera, New Jersey Opera Theater, Opera North, Spoleto Festival U.S.A., Bard Summerscape, Princeton Concert Opera, and Chicago Opera Theater where he covered Samuel Ramey in the title role of Bluebeard’s Castle.

Mr. Kuster earned an Artist Diploma at the Academy of Vocal Arts where he performed many roles
including the Governor in the world première of Margaret Garwood’s The Scarlet Letter, Schaunard in La
bohème, Enrico in Anna Bolena, Dikoj in Kát’a Kabanová, and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte. Mr. Kuster
holds a Master of Music degree from Boston University and earned a Bachelor of Music degree from
Westminster Choir College.