Maria Soulis, Mezzo-Soprano

Toronto-born mezzo-soprano Maria Soulis enjoys an exciting career in both Canada and Europe. She began her European career as a principal artist with the Regensburg Opera in Germany, later performing the roles of Carmen, Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Adalgisa (Norma), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Nicklausse (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Orfeo (Orfeo), Mrs. Grose (The Turn of the Screw), Néris (Médée), and Dryade (Ariadne auf Naxos) in theatres throughout Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. She enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate her Greek heritage when she appeared as soloist in Theodorakis’s ballet Zorba in Metz, Toulon and Nice.

As a concert singer in Europe, Maria has interpreted many of Gustav Mahler’s great orchestral song cycles: Rückert Lieder, Das Lied von der Erde, and Symphony No. 8 with the Philharmonisches Orchester Regensburg as well as Kindertotenlieder with the Mährische Philharmonie.

Her voice has been praised internationally by reviewers who have described it as “warm and powerful” and “gorgeous, dusky toned” as well as “full of warmth and drama” with “a ruby red timbre”.

In Canada, Maria has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Kingston Symphony, Windsor Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Symphony Nova Scotia, and 13 Strings in repertoire ranging from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah, to concerts of operatic favourites, and the music of Rogers and Hart.

Recently Maria sang the roles of La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi and The Monitor in Suor Angelica in Pacific Opera Victoria’s Il Trittico, and Marcellina in Against the Grain Theatre’s Figaro’s Wedding.

Maria is a Composition graduate of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, and thus is highly valued as an interpreter of contemporary works, notably with Tapestry Opera as Clara in The Enslavement and Liberation of Oksana G. (Gervais/ Murphy). 

An avid recitalist, Maria has an extensive song repertoire that spans the English, French, Spanish and German languages. Her love of chamber music inspired her to form the Maria Soulis Trio, who with guitarist William Beauvais and violinist Joyce Lai recently performed “From Greece to Granada” at Summer Music in the Garden, Toronto Harbourfront. 

Maria can be heard on the Juno-nominated Naxos CD “Vivaldi – Sacred Music Volume 4” with Kevin Mallon and the Aradia Ensemble.