A Reflection on the Financial Implications between 1971-1979
by Cullen Coulthard, Suzie Luton-Cavanagh, and Emma Reader-Lee
This exhibit is dedicated to understanding the role of opera performances at the National Arts Centre throughout the 1970s, as well as the reason for their gradual decline following that decade.
In 1963, the NAC "Brown Book" – a summary outlining the findings of a study into what would be necessary in order to establish a National Centre for the Performing Arts in the National Capital Region of Canada – was published. In this summary, it was noted that “The lack of concert hall and playhouse facilities in the National Capital area of the artistic standards required to present the performing arts to best advantage, and to be expected of a National Capital, [had] been painfully obvious for many years” (Brown Book 1963, 1). It was then determined that the NAC would require a 2300-seat opera house (which would house symphony concerts, operas, ballets, and musicals), a 1100-seat theatre, a 350-seat studio and a salon and foyer area. While it was first expected to cost $9 million, the construction of the building would end being a $46.1 million project (Jennings 2019, 10).
At this time, Ottawa had no permanent existing opera companies, and would not until 1984 when the Opera Lyra Ottawa professional opera company was founded, yet the National Arts Centre seemed to have had no plans to create their own. Instead, as can be seen in the annual reports, they hired touring companies, like the Canadian Opera Company, and individual performers for opera productions throughout the regular season and the Summer Festival.