Spotlight on Lawrence Brownlee

A familiar face—and voice—at Lyric, tenor Lawrence Brownlee has been an audience favorite since his company debut in 2015. Here, we take a look back at some of his operatic triumphs and sold-out concerts at the Lyric Opera House and around the city of Chicago.

In the fall of 2015, internationally renowned tenor Lawrence Brownlee made his long-awaited Lyric debut as Don Ramiro in Rossini's bel canto gem, La Cenerentola. It was the beginning of a fruitful relationship with the company.

Brownlee also scored a triumph in this, his belated Lyric debut... His light lyric tenor, bright of timbre and absolutely secure in his dizzying flights into the coloratura heavens, shone in the capstone Act 2 aria in which Ramiro launches his search for the unknown beauty (Angelina, of course) he met at the ball. How many tenors have you heard who can nail high Cs, and above, without resorting to falsetto? Brownlee can, and did so resplendently, bringing down the house.

Chicago Tribune

Brownlee returned to Lyric in the 2017/18 Season as Arturo in Bellini's I Puritani, showcasing his incomparable voice that effortlessly sails past high Cs and beyond.

Lawrence Brownlee is a technician in the bel canto repertoire. It's notable how easy he makes singing in such a high register look in his Arturo.

OperaWire

In the 2019/20 Season, Brownlee brought one of his signature roles to Lyric as the lovesick Count Almaviva in Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

Lawrence Brownlee wrung every possible ounce of humor from the role of Count Almaviva...Brownlee also finessed the dizzying flurries of notes assigned to the Count without sacrificing beauty of sound.

Chicago Tribune

Brownlee has also been involved in multiple successful concerts at Lyric, including a critically acclaimed duo recital with bass-baritone Eric Owens in Spring 2017, and Lawrence Brownlee and Friends in Fall 2019. Recently, Brownlee participated in Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter, a virtual concert held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, that showcased different arias and spiritual pieces, with frequent collaborator, Craig Terry and alumni and current Ensemble members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center.

In addition to mainstage operas, Brownlee also serves as an Ambassador for Lyric's education and community engagement division and has appeared in multiple community events and chamber operas.

He's also been a champion of new music. In our 2016/2017 Season, he performed the title role in Charlie Parker's Yardbird (Schnyder/Wimberly), a role he created at Opera Philadelphia. And in February of 2018, he brought Tyshawn Sorey and Terrance Hayes's powerful song cycle, Cycles of My Being, to Chicago audiences. Performed at the DuSable Museum of African American History, the work explores the realities of life as a Black man in America.

In great demand at top opera houses and concert halls around the world, Brownlee performs regularly at The Metropolitan Opera, Opera National de Paris, Teatro alla Scala, and the Royal Opera House – Covent Garden, as well as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Kennedy Center.

While maintaining a strong relationship with Lyric, Brownlee also serves as artistic advisor for Opera Philadelphia, as a Peace Ambassador for an initiative called Opera for Peace, and as a strong advocate for Autism Awareness.

This captivating bel canto star returns to Lyric in the title role of Rossini's Le Comte Ory, November 13-26. A favorite role of his, Brownlee has been celebrated as the amorous Count at top houses around the world. Experience the comedy, wit, and joy of this beautiful Rossini opera — onstage for the first time at Lyric this fall.

Photos: Kyle Flubacker, Todd Rosenberg