The curtain has fallen with terrible finality on Opera Hamilton, one of the most deep-rooted companies in Canada. The organisation cannot pay its bills and decided to lock the doors three days before its annual fund-raising gala. Details here.

Founded in 1980, OH expanded to incorporate Opera Kitchener-Waterloo. Its close leaves a large swathe of Canada without lyric diversion.

The general and artistic director for the past ten years has been David Speers, formerly head of Calgary Opera and Arizona Opera.

Sad way to start 2014.