Kanyova’s career appeared on the rise in 2001 when she appeared on a PBS-TV broadcast of New York City Opera’s La bohème. Kanyova notably starred as Mimi opposite tenor Rolando Villazon as Rodolfo in director James Robinson’s production set on the eve of World War I. “Live from Lincoln Center” host Beverly Sills was full of praise for Kanyova during the intermission interviews.
I’ve also seen Kanyova a number of times at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in such roles as Gretel in a 2012 Hänsel und Gretel and as Rita Billingsley in the 2004 world premiere of William Bolcom’s A Wedding.
In 2006, I also saw Kanyova as Pat Nixon (conducted by John Adams himself!) with Chicago Opera Theater in director James Robinson’s much-traveled 2004 co-production of Nixon in China. Kanyova’s Pat Nixon is preserved on the commercially released live Colorado Symphony Orchestra recording.
