The Michael Lyon Story
Michael Lyon enjoys a reputation as an outstanding and versatile performer with a repertoire that ranges from Broadway to Beethoven, grand opera to swing, and everything in between.
Michael developed a love for opera at an early age and made his debut as a baritone soloist in Purcell's "King Arthur," only a year after deciding he just had to sing. Shortly after that, he was picked for the lead in Wolf-Ferrari's "I Gioelli della Madonna," still without any formal training. With the benefit of instruction from some of the world's finest teachers, Michael developed the powerful tenor voice and gleaming high notes that became his trademark.
During his career, Michael sang leading roles in operas such as Madama Butterfly, Attila, Aida, Turandot, La Boheme, Il Trovatore, Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Tosca, Un Ballo in Maschera and Oedipus Rex, performing with Opera Orchestra of Los Angeles, Bel Canto Opera, Long Beach Opera, Los Angeles Concert Opera Association, Romani Foundation, Riverside Opera and others. Michael was the tenor soloist in many oratorios, including the Verdi Requiem and the various masses of Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert, among others.
Not content simply to sing so-called "legitimate" music, Michael acquired and performed an extensive repertoire of Broadway and other songs. He was a featured pops performer with the New Pops Symphony Orchestra, Torrance Symphony, Tulare County Symphony, and Capistrano Valley Symphony who showcased him in "Move Over Caruso," a tribute concert to that magnificent tenor's best-loved arias and Neapolitan songs. Michael gave numerous other concerts and was frequently engaged to sing at private events at the behest of Southern California's "Glitterati." His voice was heard in a number of radio and television commercials.
Michael Lyon made his main stage Carnegie Hall debut in 1998 as tenor soloist in Beach's "Then Said Isaiah" and was also featured in the American premiere of John Cage's Europera3, in a live recording with Long Beach Opera.
Entering new musical phases has been part of Michael's performing life. The advent of singers like Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban, who applied their legitimate sound to popular music—"Popera," provided simply another musical genre for Michael to make his own—and he did. Always a fan of Big Band and Swing, he ventured into that music several years ago with spectacular results. Michael's training and the conscientious care of his voice provide him a vocal and emotional range few other singers can call upon. While respecting the icons of the genre like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and, most recently, Michael Buble, Michael's voice and style are uniquely his own. Moreover, audiences have demanded that he sing this music and the reviews have been glowing.
Michael is a seasoned session singer often called for voiceover work because of his outstanding work ethic, the sheer versatility of his vocal range, and his ability to "nail" almost any type of music with very few takes.
Born and raised in an English farming community, Michael married Kristin, an Omaha native, and an outstanding performer in her own right, who got her theater and musical grounding at the Omaha Community Playhouse, the Firehouse Dinner Theater and M's Pub before moving on to successes elsewhere. In 2000, the Lyon family made Omaha their home, where Michael and Kristin pursue an active performing schedule. Michael programmed and hosted the Sunday morning concert at KVNO, Classical 90.7 for three years. Currently, Michael is the local anchor for National Public Radio’s Morning Edition every weekday morning on 91.5 KIOS-FM, Omaha Public Radio.
