Maria Kanyova Soprano

Of Maria Kanyova’s summer 2005 performances as Madama Butterfly, the Denver Post raved, “Making her striking Central City debut in the demanding title role, soprano Maria Kanyova hardly could be more convincing with her appropriately youthful appearance and ability to convey the young wife’s innocence, vulnerability and pain. More important, she possesses a pure, forceful voice with a pleasing, soft edge – and she knows how to use it.” The American soprano has received equal praise for her portrayals of the leading heroines in Italian, French, German, Russian and Czech opera with companies throughout the United States.

During the 2009/10 season, Maria Kanyova makes her European operatic debut at the Wexford Festival, reprising her critically acclaimed Marie Antoinette in James Robinson’s new production of The Ghosts of Versailles, under the baton of Michael Christie. Having previously made her triumphant debut in the role at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Ms. Kanyova is only the third artist to take on the challenges of this seminal role since the opera’s world premiere in 1991. She returns to St. Louis in 2010 as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, and performs scenes from Nixon in China in concert with the Phoenix Symphony. This season also sees the release of a new recording of Nixon in China on the Naxos label, featuring Ms. Kanyova as Pat Nixon.

Maria Kanyova has received awards from the Liederkranz Foundation, the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Greater Miami Opera Guild. She is also the winner of a 2001 Richard Tucker Foundation Career Grant and a 2000 Sullivan Foundation Award. She currently resides in Chicago with her husband, son, and two daughters.

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