After 31 seasons, Ottawa’s only opera company will be ceasing operation effective today.
In a statement issued today, the Opera Lyra Ottawa Board of Directors stated, “It is with deep regret that we have decided to cease operations, effective today. There will be an immediate shutdown of the current performance season, the 31st in the company’s history. The Board will now review options on how it may adjust its future operations.”
The abrupt end is due to the continued and systemic revenue shortfalls in the four primary areas of ticket sales, government grants, philanthropic donations and commercial sponsorships. For years, Opera Lyra has struggled to raise funds in these areas but has failed to turn them around.
This is the second time when the board has forced the company to shut down, the first being 2011 when past budget shortfalls accumulated to the point of insolvency.
Opera Lyra has removed the remaining season events, including the openings of “Etiquette” by composer Monica Pearce with libretto by John Terauds, and “Regina” by Elisha Denburg with libretto by Maya Rabinovitch (which was only days from opening) from the website.
“The decline in paying audiences for Opera Lyra (a trend that is reportedly affecting other performing arts in Ottawa-Gatineau) is a key difficulty. Opera is an expensive musical genre. It combines orchestral music, vocal performance, and dramatic staging with sets, lighting and costumes. Other opera companies in North America have also had recent financial problems and several closures, notably in San Diego, New York and Hamilton, Ontario.”
The board expressed appreciation to supporters and staff and are looking into ways to re-launch as a smaller, leaner version of former self.
“The current program delivers two fully staged operas each year at the NAC, but our experience shows that this approach is too costly for an independent, professional company and ticket sales are unpredictable. Lower cost models, or wider partnerships, may be viable alternatives.”
Opera Lyra Ottawa was founded in 1984 after the National Arts Centre closed it’s summer opera productions, by soprano Diana Gilchrist. John Peter “Jeep” Jefferies is the General Director. The company’s productions are housed in National Arts Centre and include both fully staged and concert productions.
Musical Toronto will be updating the story as new details emerge.
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