Borrow from the Toronto Public Library’s extensive catalogue of classical books, CDs and DVDs, or dive into the reference branch’s Performing Arts Centre collection. 789 Yonge St., 416-395‑5577, www.torontopubliclibrary.ca

Make aria appreciation a family affair. The Toronto Summer Music Festival gives kids an early start on their operatic education with a Sunday of storytelling, a visit to the Gardiner Museum’s Commedia dell’Arte collection (complete with clay workshop) and a matinée of Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos. Aug. 14 to 17. $50. Mac­Millan Theatre, Edward Johnson BuiLDing, 80 Queen’s Park, 416-597‑7840, www.torontosummer music.com

Hit the road for a weekend getaway in Campbellford, home of the Westben Arts Festival Theatre. Classical 96.3 FM’s Alexa Petrenko hosts Saturday Night at the Opera, a program of famous arias sung by the likes of tenor Keith Klassen, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Turnbull, soprano Monica Whicher and bass-baritone Gary Relyea. July 26. $40. 6698 County Rd. 30, three kM northwest of Camp­bellford, 1-877-883-5777, www.westben.on.ca

Shell out $7 and take one of the hour-long Saturday tours of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the mother ship for local opera fans. You can grill a docent for COC-related and historical deets, not to mention backstage gossip. 145 Queen St. W., 416-363-8231, www.coc.ca