Midwest Opera Theater and the Demoss Center for Worship in the Performing Arts at Judson University are proud to present Another Sunrise by Jake Heggie on Saturday, April 23, at 7 p.m. in Thulin Auditorium in Judson University’s Thompson Hall (1151 N. State Street, Elgin, IL 60123). This one-woman opera is based on the life of a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust and imprisonment in Auschwitz. Internationally acclaimed soprano and Guest Artist in Voice at Judson University Dr. Maria Kanyova will perform this moving 30-minute opera. Accompanying her on piano will be Dr. Robert Kania, Chair of the Music Department at Judson University and Professor of Music in Piano.
Critics have hailed Maria Kanyova as an extraordinary singing actress. Robert Trussell of the Kansas City Star wrote of her portrayal of Pat Nixon, “Her voice could stop time.” Throughout Maria’s extensive and busy performing career, she has performed leading roles with the Chicago Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Dallas Opera, and the New York City Opera, along with many other prestigious opera companies. As a voice teacher and celebrated soprano, Maria is currently an Associate Voice Professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Guest Artist in Voice at Judson University. Recently she has bridged her passion for singing and teaching voice together in her creation of Midwest Opera Theater, a mobile opera company, www.midwestopera.com. Here she is committed to giving young singers and community members performance opportunities with seasoned operatic professionals and to present these collaborations in cities and venues where opera might not ordinarily be performed. August 2019 marked the first season for MWOT. This year marks the return of MWOT hosted by Judson University after a pause in producing opera during the pandemic months.
Dr. Robert Kania, a native of Poland, has performed as a piano recital soloist and accompanist on three continents: Europe and North and South America. His recent appearances include performances at the Wexford Opera Festival in Wexford, Ireland; the Academy of Music in Poznan, Poland; Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.; and Berea College in Berea, Ohio. He has studied with such distinguished masters as Sequeira Costa, Andrzej Tatarski, and Jack Wonerock. Through these masters, Dr. Kania’s teaching lineage goes back directly to Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin. Dr. Kania has taught Piano, Music Theory, Aural Skills, and Orchestration at Judson University since 1998. He is also the Artistic Director of the Judson Civic Orchestra.
Maria Kanyova and Robert Kania are married and have four children.
This performance of Another Sunrise is free of charge however there will be an opportunity to give a charitable donation to World Vision for Ukrainian Child Relief after the performance through a free-will offering.