Maria Soulis
mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Maria Soulis began her operatic career as a principal artist with the Regensburg Opera in Germany, performing the roles of Carmen, Rosina, Dorabella, Nicklausse, and Orfeo, in theatres throughout Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. In concert works from Bach to Mahler, her voice has been praised internationally by reviewers who have described it as “warm and powerful”, as well as “gorgeous, dusky‐toned” with a “ruby red timbre”. In Canada, Maria has performed with the Kingston Symphony, Windsor Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Chorus Niagara, and the Elora Festival.
Maria appeared as La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi and the Monitor in Suor Angelica, in Pacific Opera Victoria’s Il Trittico, Marcellina in Against the Grain Theatre’s Figaro’s Wedding, and Clara in the world premiere of Oksana G. with Tapestry Opera. She returned to Victoria in 2023 to sing Grimgerde in Wagner’s Die Walküre.
A member of the Toronto Heliconian Club, Maria performs often on its concert series as a singer, pianist, and composer, recently performing excerpts from her piano suite, “Memories, Greece”. An avid recitalist, Maria has an extensive song repertoire spanning six languages.
Maria is honoured to have song cycles written for her by Canadian composers Colin Eatock (Three Songs from “The Prophet”), James Moffett (Songs for a Summer’s Night), and William Beauvais (Rounding the Human Corners, Wounded Alphabets and Illicit Violins).
Maria can be heard on the Juno-nominated Naxos CD “Vivaldi – Sacred Music” with Kevin Mallon and Aradia Ensemble, and Golden Wood Silver Branches with guitarist William Beauvais and violinist Joyce Lai.