Summer Opera Lyric Theatre is offering Toronto audiences three rarely performed works by Menotti, Victor Davies and Eugene Benson, and Leoš Janáček for 2026. Performances take place between July 24 and August 2 at the Alumnae Theatre.
Summer Opera Lyric Theatre and Research Centre was founded in 1986 by Guillermo Silva-Marin, who leads the organization today as General Director. The organization’s mandate is to promote musical and dramatic education while showcasing artists at all stages of development. SOLT is known for presenting innovative repertoire, bringing together casts that range from emerging artists and student to well known professional singers and teachers.
Here’s a look at what’s in store.
Gian Carlo Menotti: The Medium (July 24, 29 & 30, August 1)
Vlad Soloviev as Music Director/Pianist
Cast for July 24 & 30: Gabrysia Kowalik (Monica); Benjamin Irani (Toby); Patricia Yates (Madame Flora, Baba); Kate Gayman (Mrs. Gobineau); Jeffrey Emslie (Mr. Gobineau); Chelsie Boccogelle (Mrs. Nolan)
Cast for July 29 & August 1: Alia Ginevra (Monica); Ian Nathaniel Balana (Toby); Karen Bojti (Madame Flora, Baba); Kate Gayman (Mrs. Gobineau); Jeffrey Emslie (Mr. Gobineau); Gabrielle de Grandmont (Mrs. Nolan)
The Story
Madame Flora operates a business as a fraudulent psychic medium. Her daughter Monica helps her to trick customers, including Mrs. and Mr. Gobineau, and Mrs. Nolan, that they are hearing directly from the spirits of their dearly departed loved ones.
After one such faux séance, however, Madame Flora becomes terrified when she feels the real presence of a supernatural force — one that is definitely not friendly.
Toby is a mute servant boy who has been rescued from the street, and Madame Flora, a frequent drunk, often abuses him. Toby and Monica are in love, but as Madame Flora’s alcoholism and the mania induced by her supernatural encounters send her into a downward spiral, tragedy is the outcome.
The opera in two acts was Menotti’s first international success, and he wrote both the music and libretto. It’s written for five singers and a dance-mime. Its first performance was at Columbia University in 1946, and it’s only been performed a few times in Canada since then.
Overall, the mood is eerie and melancholic, even macabre. The work is characterized by dissonance, but also by its gorgeous melodies.
Victor Davies (composer) & Eugene Benson (libretto): Earnest, The Importance Of Being (July 25, 26, 29, 31)
Sabina Rzazade as Music Director/Pianist
Cast for July 25 & 29: Austin Larusson (John Worthing); Robert Hutson (Algernon Moncrieff); George Ossipov (Rev Canon Chasuble); Ross Cole (Lane/Merriman); Hannah Cole (Lady Bracknell); Simone Lemieux (Gwendolen Fairfax); Bailey Williams (Cecily Cardew); Asha Mayadunne (Miss Prism).
Cast for July 26 & 31: Tyler Prince (John Worthing); Robert Hutson (Algernon Moncrieff); Nathaniel Lapp (Rev Canon Chasuble); Brian Liu (Lane/Merriman); Patricia Yates (Lady Bracknell); Hannah Cole (Gwendolen Fairfax); Nathalie Winfield-Hicks (Cecily Cardew); Asha Mayadunne (Miss Prism).
The Story
This full length operetta is based on Oscar Wilde’s iconic comedy The Importance Of Being Ernest, and premiered with the Toronto Operetta Theatre in February 2008. It’s a revealing comedy that pokes as the mores and manners of high society and class distinctions with sublime melodies and vocal virtuosity.
John (Jack) Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff are two young men who are romancing two young ladies named Gwendolyn Fairfax and Cecily Cardew respectively. Jack lives in the country. Algernon lives in the city, but he often escapes to the country based on the premise of a fictitious friend “Bunbury” who’s an invalid.
Both of them use the equally fictitious name of Ernest as they woo the young ladies. Gwendolyn and Cecily accept their respective marriage proposals based largely on the idea that they believe they are fated to marry someone called Ernest.
Gwendolen’s mother (and Cecily’s aunt), the Lady Bracknell, questions Jack, and is horrified to discover that he was born in a handbag, with no parents to claim him. She refuses to consent to either marriage.
Romantic complications fuel the comedy, and the impasse is solved by a surprise ending.
Leoš Janáček: Katya Kabanova
Minira Najafzade as Music Director/Pianist
Cast for July 25 & August 1: Meghan Mair (Katerina Kabanova); Mike Fan (Boris Grigoryevich); Karen Bojti (Marfa Kabanova); Jan Doroteo (Vanya Kudrjasch); Chelsie Boccogelle (Barbara); Brian Liu (Dikoy); Eric Olsen (Tichon Kabanov); Jeffrey Emslie (Kuligin); Asha Mayadunne (Glascha).
Cast for July 28 & August 2: Elaine Glinos (Katerina Kabanova); Mike Fan (Boris Grigoryevich); Karen Bojti (Marfa Kabanova); Jan Doroteo (Vanya Kudrjasch); Gabrielle de Grandmont (Barbara); George Ossipov (Dikoy); Eric Olsen (Tichon Kabanov); Jeffrey Emslie (Kuligin); Asha Mayadunne (Glascha).
The Story
In a small, isolated Russian town on the banks of the Volga River, the rules and appearances matter. As a storm threatens, passions erupt, leading to tragic — and also a kind of freedom.
Katerina Kabanova, or Katya, is trapped in an unhappy marriage, and to make matters worse, she lives in a household dominated by the bitter and controlling Marfa, called Kabanicha. Boris also has a terrible and oppressive relationship with his uncle Dikoy. Boris is in love with Katya, who is married to Tichon.
While Tichon is away from home, romances spring up between Vanya and Varvara, and Boris and Katya. Katya hesitates at first, but then plunges into the forbidden relationship. As the storm approaches, Tichon returns home, and Katya can’t help but confess her illicit love. Torment and tragedy ensue.
Janáček composed the opera, and wrote the libretto based on The Storm, a play by Alexander Ostrovsky. It’s also inspired by the 67 year old composer’s love for Kamila Stösslová, and he dedicated the work to her. It premiered in 1921.
Details
All performances take place at the Alumnae Theatre (70 Berkeley Street)
- Find tickets and other show details [HERE].
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