Russian-American Mezzo-Soprano Mariya Kaganskaya recently created the role of Teacher in the Santa Fe Opera’s world premiere production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, the recording of which earned the 2019 GRAMMY Award for Best Opera Recording. For Florida Grand Opera, she has performed Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Charlotte (cover)/Käthchen in Werther, Paula in Florencia en el Amazonas, Page in Salome, and Mrs. Rockefeller/Natalia in Frida. She recently performed Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and Third Wood Sprite in Rusalka at Arizona Opera.
In the 2019-2020 Season, Ms. Kaganskaya makes virtual debuts with Baltimore Concert Opera, Bronx Opera, and PROJECT [BLANK], and is the the first US-based artist available for virtual gig booking on Lockdown Presents. Pre-lockdown performances included Malka in the premiere of Elijah's Violin.
Upcoming/postponed appearances include Ludmila in The Bartered Bride and a debut as the Mezzo soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, as well as a debut with Opera Ithaca.
Other recent roles include Olga in Eugene Onegin, Hostess in Boris Godunov, Marta in Iolanta, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Ottavia in L’incoronazione di Poppea, the title role of Serse, La Nourrice in Milhaud's Médée, Mexican Woman in A Streetcar Named Desire, Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti, Julia Bertram in Mansfield Park, and Malka in the premiere of Elijah’s Violin. Recent oratorio credits include performances as the Mezzo soloist in Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and Handel’s Messiah.
Ms. Kaganskaya’s training includes residencies with the Santa Fe Opera, Arizona Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, and the iSing International Festival in China. She is an alumna of the OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program and the Russian Opera Workshop at the Academy of Vocal Arts, and earned her MM and PGD at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Catherine Cook.
Her recent awards include First Place in the Lois Alba Aria Competition, the St. Petersburg Opera Guild Competition, the Gershwin International Music Competition, the Pacific Musical Society Competition, and the Eastern Region of the NATS Artist Awards; Second Place in the Henry and Maria Holt Memorial Competition; Third Place in the Edward M. Murray International Competition of Voice, the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, and the East Bay Opera League Competition. She is a Winner of the most recent Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Foundation Competition and the inaugural Butler Opera International Competition, as well as the Pasadena Opera Guild Competition and the San Francisco District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and the recipient of Encouragement Awards from the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition and the Western Region of the Metropolitan Opera National Council.
Ms. Kaganskaya is represented by Piper Artists Management.
Image by Roland Faust, 2019
Image by Roland Faust, 2019
Image by Roland Faust, 2021
Image by Roland Faust, 2019
Image by Natalya Polyakova
Image by Natalya Polyakova
with baritone Daniel Cilli and mezzo-soprano Nia Lewis. Image by Natalya Polyakova
Image by Natalya Polyakova
Third Lady in The Magic Flute at Opera San José, September 2024, with soprano Maria Brea, mezzo-soprano Melisa Bonetti Luna, and Tenor Sergio Gonzalez. Image by Kristen Loken
Third Lady in The Magic Flute at Opera San José, September 2024, with Baritone Ricardo José Rivera, Tenor Sergio Gonzalez, and mezzo-soprano Melisa Bonetti Luna. Image by Kristen Loken
Third Lady in The Magic Flute at Opera San José, September 2024, with mezzo-soprano Melisa Bonetti Luna, soprano Emily Misch, tenor Nicolas Vasquez-Gerst, soprano Maria Brea, soprano Melissa Sondhi, bass Younggwang Park, and other cast members. Image by Kristen Loken
Third Lady in The Magic Flute at Opera San José, September 2024, with soprano Maria Brea, mezzo-soprano Melisa Bonetti Luna, and Tenor Sergio Gonzalez. Image by Kristen Loken
Polina in Pique Dame with West Bay Opera, May 2022. Image by Otak Jump
Polina in Pique Dame with West Bay Opera, May 2022. Image by Otak Jump
Polina in Pique Dame with West Bay Opera, May 2022. Image by Otak Jump
Milovzor in Pique Dame with West Bay Opera, May 2022. Image by Otak Jump
Milovzor in Pique Dame with West Bay Opera, May 2022. Image by Otak Jump
Milovzor in Pique Dame with West Bay Opera, May 2022. Image by Otak Jump
Milovzor in Pique Dame with West Bay Opera, May 2022. Image by Otak Jump
Larina in Eugene Onegin at Opera Omaha, April 2022. Image courtesy of Opera Omaha
Larina in Eugene Onegin at Opera Omaha, April 2022. Image courtesy of Opera Omaha
Beppe in L'amico Fritz with Teatro Grattacielo, November 2021
Beppe in L'amico Fritz with Teatro Grattacielo, November 2021
Beppe in L'amico Fritz with Teatro Grattacielo, November 2021
Sandman in Hansel and Gretel with Opera Ithaca, December 2021
Sandman in Hansel and Gretel with Opera Ithaca, December 2021
Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at Florida Grand Opera, January 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at Florida Grand Opera, January 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at Florida Grand Opera, with Baritone Jonathan Michie and Soprano Elena Galván, January 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at Florida Grand Opera, January 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Paula in Florenia en el Amazonas at Florida Grand Opera, April 2018. Image by Benjamin Werley
Paula in Florenia en el Amazonas at Florida Grand Opera, with Baritone William Lee Bryan, April 2018. Image by Benjamin Werley
Paula in Florenia en el Amazonas at Florida Grand Opera, with Tenor Andrew Bidlack, Sopranos Cecilia Violetta Lopez and Ana Maria Martinez, Bass-Baritone Rafael Porto, and Baritone William Lee Bryan, April 2018. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Paula in Florenia en el Amazonas at Florida Grand Opera, April 2018. Image by Benjamin Werley
Mrs. Rockefeller in Frida at Florida Grand Opera, with Sopranos Catalina Cuervo and Evan Kardon, March 2019. Image by Chris Kakol
Natalia in Frida at Florida Grand Opera, with Tenor Dominick Corbacio, March 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Schoolgirl in Frida at Florida Grand Opera, with Tenor Sopranos Evan Kardon, Jessica E. Jones, and Catalina Cuervo, Mezzo-Soprano Stephany Pena, and Tenor Dominick Corbacio, March 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Mrs. Rockefeller in Frida at Florida Grand Opera, with Sopranos Catalina Cuervo and Evan Kardon, March 2019. Image by Chris Kakol
Käthchen in Werther at Florida Grand Opera, with Bass-Baritone Jake Gardner and Baritone Sean Galligan, April 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Käthchen in Werther at Florida Grand Opera, with Baritone Sean Galligan, April 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Käthchen in Werther at Florida Grand Opera, with Bass-Baritone Jake Gardner and Baritone Sean Galligan, April 2019. Image by Daniel Azoulay
The Page in Salome at Florida Grand Opera, with Soprano Melody Moore in the title role, January 2018. Image by Daniel Azoulay
The Page in Salome at Florida Grand Opera, January 2018. Image by Daniel Azoulay
The Page in Salome at Florida Grand Opera, with Soprano Melody Moore in the title role, January 2018. Image by Daniel Azoulay
Teacher in the world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at the Santa Fe Opera, August 2017. Image by Bobby Gutierrez
Teacher in the world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at the Santa Fe Opera, August 2017. Image by Bobby Gutierrez
Teacher in the world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at the Santa Fe Opera, with Baritone Edward Parks as Steve Jobs and the Santa Fe Opera chorus, July 2017
Teacher in the world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at the Santa Fe Opera, August 2017. Image by Bobby Gutierrez
Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Arizona Opera, April 2017. Image by Tim Trumble
Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Arizona Opera, April 2017, with Bass Stefano de Peppo and Soprano Katrina Galka. Image by Tim Trumble
Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Arizona Opera, April 2017, with Mezzo-Soprano Daniela Mack, Baritone Joseph Lattanzi, Soprano Katrina Galka, Tenor Alek Shrader, Bass-Baritone Zachary Owen, Bass Stephano de Peppo, and the Arizona Opera chorus. Image by Tim Trumble
Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Arizona Opera, April 2017. Image by Tim Trumble
Suzuki in Madama Butterfly at Arizona Opera, January 2017. Image courtesy of Arizona Opera/Caitie Quick
Suzuki in Madama Butterfly at Arizona Opera, January 2017, with Soprano Rena Harms. Image courtesy of Arizona Opera/Caitie Quick
Suzuki in Madama Butterfly at Arizona Opera, January 2017. Image courtesy of Arizona Opera/Caitie Quick
Suzuki in Madama Butterfly at Arizona Opera, January 2017. Image courtesy of Arizona Opera/Caitie Quick
Third Wood Sprite in Rusalka at Arizona Opera, with Sopranos Katrina Galka and Lacy Sauter, November 2016. Image courtesy of AZO
Third Wood Sprite in Rusalka at Arizona Opera, with Sopranos Katrina Galka and Lacy Sauter, Baritone Richard Paul Fink, and dancers, November 2016. Image courtesy of AZO
Third Wood Sprite in Rusalka at Arizona Opera, with Sopranos Katrina Galka and Lacy Sauter, November 2016. Image courtesy of AZO
The final scene of The Rape of Lucretia at the Florida Grand Opera Studio Artist showcase. Image by Benjamin Werley.
The final scene of The Rape of Lucretia, with Bass Simon Dyer, at the Florida Grand Opera Studio Artist showcase. Image by Benjamin Werley.
The final scene of The Rape of Lucretia at the Florida Grand Opera Studio Artist showcase. Image by Benjamin Werley.
The final scene of The Rape of Lucretia at the Florida Grand Opera Studio Artist showcase. Image by Benjamin Werley.
Quickly in the Falstaff quartet in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene Showcase. Image by Bobby Gutierrez.
Quickly in the Falstaff quartet in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene Showcase. Image by Bobby Gutierrez.
Quickly in the Falstaff quartet in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene Showcase, with mezzo Pascale Spinney and Sopranos Joanna Latini and Sarah Tucker. Image by Bobby Gutierrez.
Quickly in the Falstaff quartet in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene Showcase. Image by Bobby Gutierrez.
Hostess in Boris Godunov in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene showcase, August 2016. Photo by Bobby Gutierrez
Hostess in Boris Godunov in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene showcase, August 2016, with bass David Leigh. Photo by Bobby Gutierrez
Hostess in Boris Godunov in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene showcase, August 2016. Photo by Bobby Gutierrez
Hostess in Boris Godunov in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scene showcase, August 2016. Photo by Bobby Gutierrez
Marta in Iolanta with New Opera NYC, April 2016, with Tenor Ross Halper. Image courtesy of New Opera NYC
Marta in Iolanta with New Opera NYC, April 2016, with Soprano Julia Lima. Image courtesy of New Opera NYC
Marta in Iolanta with New Opera NYC, April 2016, with Tenor Ross Halper. Image courtesy of New Opera NYC
Hostess in Boris Godunov with New Opera NYC, April 2016, with bass Mikhail Svetlov. Image courtesy of New Opera NYC
Hostess in Boris Godunov with New Opera NYC, April 2016. Image courtesy of New Opera NYC
Hostess in Boris Godunov with New Opera NYC, April 2016, with bass Mikhail Svetlov. Image courtesy of New Opera NYC
Mexican Woman in A Streetcar Named Desire at Opera Santa Barbara, April 2015. Image courtesy of Opera Santa Barbara
Mexican Woman in A Streetcar Named Desire with Beverly O'Regan Thiele (Blanche) at Opera Santa Barbara, April 2015. Image courtesy of Opera Santa Barbara
Mexican Woman in A Streetcar Named Desire at Opera Santa Barbara, April 2015. Image courtesy of Opera Santa Barbara
Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the University of California, San Diego, with Baritone Brian Hand, May 2012. Photo courtesy of Lexie Wang
Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the University of California, San Diego, with principals and conductor Frank S. Li, May 2012. Photo courtesy of Lexie Wang
Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the University of California, San Diego, with Baritone Brian Hand, May 2012. Photo courtesy of Lexie Wang
Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the San Francisco Conservatory, with Soprano Siobhan Raupach, February 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the San Francisco Conservatory, February 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the San Francisco Conservatory, with Baritone Brandon Jaico and Soprano Kimberly Hawley, February 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Dorabella in Così fan tutte at the San Francisco Conservatory, with Soprano Siobhan Raupach, February 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Madam in Exposure at the OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program, with Tenor Shane Tapley and Soprano Alyssa Marshall, July 2013
Madam in Exposure at the OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program, with Soprano Alyssa Marshall and pianist Douglas Sumi, July 2013
Madam in Exposure at the OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program, with Soprano Alyssa Marshall and pianist Douglas Sumi, July 2013
Madam in Exposure at the OperaWorks Advanced Artist Program, with Tenor Shane Tapley and Soprano Alyssa Marshall, July 2013
Solo debut with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, under Maestro Yu Long, July 2015. Image courtesy of Jacky Photography
茉莉花 (Jasmine Flower) with the Suzhou Orchestra and colleagues at the iSing Festival in Suzhou, July 2015. Image courtesy of Jacky Photography
A scene from The Merry Widow, with Soprano Raquel Suarez Groen, in Suzhou, July 2015. Image courtesy of Jacky Photography
Solo debut with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, under Maestro Yu Long, July 2015. Image courtesy of Jacky Photography
The final scene of Carmen on the winners' concert of the inaugural Butler Opera International Competition, with Tenor Sangmoon Lee, September 2018
The final scene of Carmen on the winners' concert of the inaugural Butler Opera International Competition, September 2018
Performing on the winners' concert of the inaugural Butler Opera International Competition, September 2018
The final scene of Carmen on the winners' concert of the inaugural Butler Opera International Competition, with Tenor Sangmoon Lee, September 2018
Performing at the Western Regionals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, November 2015
Performing at the Western Regionals of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, November 2015
As the Witch in Lou Harrison's Rapunzel with the SFCM New Music Ensemble and Maestra Nicole Paiement, November 2014
As the Witch in Lou Harrison's Rapunzel with the SFCM New Music Ensemble and Maestra Nicole Paiement, November 2014
Brown Bag Recital at Arizona Opera, September 2016. Image courtesy of Arizona Opera
Brown Bag Recital at Arizona Opera, September 2016. Image courtesy of Arizona Opera
Lakmé duet in the Arizona Opera Sapphire Celebration, with Soprano Rachele Gilmore, October 2016. Photo courtesy of Arizona Opera
Arizona Opera Sapphire Celebration, with Frederica von Stade, October 2016. Photo courtesy of Arizona Opera
Lakmé duet in the Arizona Opera Sapphire Celebration, with Soprano Rachele Gilmore, October 2016. Photo courtesy of Arizona Opera
Postgraduate Recital at the San Francisco Conservatory with pianist Steven Bailey, May 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Postgraduate Recital at the San Francisco Conservatory with violist Cynthia Ryan and pianist Alla Gladysheva, May 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Postgraduate Recital (encore) at the San Francisco Conservatory, May 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Postgraduate Recital at the San Francisco Conservatory with pianist Steven Bailey, May 2016. Image by Alexandra Gilliam
Graduate recital at the San Francisco Conservatory, with guitarists Alan Roberto Lopez and Tatiana Senderowicz, May 2015.
Graduate recital at the San Francisco Conservatory, May 2015.
Graduate recital at the San Francisco Conservatory, with guitarists Alan Roberto Lopez and Tatiana Senderowicz, May 2015.
Working in a master class with Susan Graham and Malcolm Martineau, accompanied by Timothy Bach, March 2015
Working with Susan Graham, March 2015
Working in a master class with Susan Graham and Malcolm Martineau, accompanied by Timothy Bach, March 2015
