Opera Notes from the Stalls: A look back
For a number of seasons, I had the pleasure—and pressure—of writing historical program notes for the opera company in Ottawa. It was a chance to stretch my writing chops and put my musicology training to use, bringing historical context, musical insights, and a touch of narrative flair to each production.
These were volunteer contributions—labours of love, really—and they weren’t always easy. As someone without institutional access to an academic library at the time, sourcing reliable information behind paywalls was often a challenge. That experience continues to shape the conversations I now have with faculty about the importance of equitable access to information. The barriers I faced as an independent researcher were real, and they resonate deeply with issues in scholarly publishing today.
Despite the hurdles, I tried to keep the notes light and engaging. I offered historical background, spotlighted key musical moments to listen for, and occasionally wandered down curious little alleyways of context-- then to circle back to the main theme. That narrative arc, the journey outward and return, was inspired in part by my admiration for James Burke’s brilliant television series "Connections". Burke had a gift for beginning with an idea and winding his way through surprising links across science, society, and invention, only to return full circle. That was my goal too; though whether I always managed it is another story!
A few of those notes still exist online, and the pages now show their age. they suffer from link rot, an all too common affliction in our digital lives. Here are some of the ones still publicly accessible 🎭 an encore:
Looking back, I’m grateful for the chance to connect with opera audiences, to tell stories that illuminated the works on stage, and to learn more with each production. As I revisit these notes, I’m also thinking about how to give them a proper digital home—cleaning up the content, preserving them through the Internet Archive, and maybe even reimagining their presentation for new readers.