Summer Opera Lyric Theatre continues its tradition as the only performance haven for Toronto’s opera lovers in late summer. Since 1986, Guillermo Silva Marin has led aspiring young artists through an intensive 8-week course of study concentrating on character development in opera through text and music. These weeks culminate in a series of performances showcasing the young artists at the historic Alumnae Theatre at 70 Berkeley St (corner of Berkeley and Adelaide). The only summer course of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area, alumni include Krisztina Szabó, Korin Thomas-Smith, David Pomeroy, Nora Sourouzian, Ryan Allen and Joshua Hopkins, all currently enjoying national and international careers.

In 2026, the season opens with Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium on Friday, July 24 (8pm) with further performances on Wednesday, July 29 (2pm), Thursday, July 30 (8pm) and Saturday, August 1 (8pm). Performances of Davies and Benson’s Earnest, the Importance of Being are on Saturday, July 25 (2 pm), Sunday, July 26 (2 pm), Wednesday, July 29 (8 pm) and Friday, July 31 (8 pm). Janáček’s Kátya Kabanová, is on Saturday, July 25 (8 pm), Tuesday, July 28 (8pm), Saturday, August 1 (2pm) and Sunday, August 2 (2pm). “This summer we concentrate on three distinct performance styles of opera and music theatre confronting supernatural terror, social repression and a high comedy of manners…all in English. Projection of text and dramatic immediacy will be paramount,” commented Silva-Marin recently from the rehearsal hall at the Edward Jackman Centre. Continuing, he expressed enthusiasm for the three music directors this summer including the return of Sabina Rzazade for Earnest, the Importance of Being and Minira Najafzade for Katya Kabanova and Vlad Soloviev in his SOLT debut as music director of The Medium.

The 27 SOLT participants for this summer have been chosen after extensive auditions and come from hometowns, conservatories and universities across Canada, including professionals already in the midst of burgeoning careers. Silva-Marin is stage director for all three works and guest lecturers for the summer include Jennifer Tung, Colin Ainsworth, Julie Nesrallah, Jennifer Tarver, Elizabeth Beeler, Kathy Domoney, Derek Bate and Henry Ingram.

All performances take place at the Alumnae Theatre at 70 Berkeley Street at Adelaide. Subscription packages for $60 and single tickets for $28, $22 for students and seniors, are now available at www.solt.ca or by calling the TO Live box office at 416-366-7723 (open Monday-Friday, 1-6pm). The theatre is air-conditioned, completely wheelchair accessible and convenient to public parking and transit.