American soprano Maria Kanyova makes her San Francisco Opera debut as Pat Nixon, a role she has performed with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Ravinia Festival, Chicago Opera Theater, Canadian Opera Company, and Opera Colorado; she also performs the role on a recent recording of Nixon in China on the Naxos label. Kanyova returns to the Company in 2013 as Miriam in the world premiere of Mark Adamo’s The Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Her recent engagements include Nedda (Pagliacci) and Violetta (La Traviata) with Portland Opera; and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Marie Antoinette (Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles) at the Wexford Festival and Opera Theatre of St. Louis; Mimì (La Bohème) and Nedda with the Dallas Opera; Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) and Gretel (Hänsel un Gretel) with Los Angeles Opera; Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) in St. Louis; the title role of Madama Butterfly with Madison Opera; Nedda with New York City Opera; Adina (L’Elisir d’Amore) with Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Colorado; and the title role of Jenůfa with Glimmerglass Opera. Kanyova enjoys a special collaboration with New York City Opera, where she has performed Mimì, the title role of Suor Angelica, Violetta, and Corinna (Il Viaggio a Reims).Highlights of past seasons include Konstanze (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) and Susanna with Opera Colorado; Tatyana (Eugene Onegin) with Boston Lyric Opera; Mimì with Houston Grand Opera; and the title role of Madama Butterfly and creating the role of the obsessive-compulsive wedding planner in the world premiere of Bolcom’s A Wedding at Lyric Opera of Chicago.