Might Chargers eye property occupied by opera studio?

One concern that is circulating is that there is lots of pressure or criticism being put on non-cooperating board members so they will resign, and therefore leave more members (on the side of Mrs. Cohn and the Campbells) to vote for dissolution. Clearly, there has been serious cleaving amongst the board members--even long time friendships are being threatened by the "what side are you on?" question. Really sad, and probably very bad in the long run for the entire not-for-profit charities in town.
— April 15, 2014 5:15 p.m.

San Diego Opera head says all want to save company

The "final" performance was powerful and moving, and it's hard to imagine a more appropriate tale than Don Quixote at this time. Nic Reveles got a standing ovation when he came in for the pre-opera lecture, and he spoke eloquently about the power of art to transform. He also said "this is NOT the end!" and everyone stood and clapped again. The last curtain call--when it seemed everyone on the staff came on stage--was even more moving. Carpenters, seamstresses, stagehands, electricians, all the workers who make SDO happen were there. Some were weeping, one girl in the front row had her head in her hands the whole time. The entire audience was on its feet cheering. It seemed everyone before and after the performance was talking about the demise, and a man walked around before the opera with a big sign saying "Ian & Ann RESIGN." If a new leadership group of donors and arts administrators can muster a re-birth, and can take all this good audience energy and turn it into a sustainable organization, San Diego will benefit enormously and we will see a 50th season.
— April 13, 2014 9:28 p.m.

San Diego Opera head says all want to save company

One of the more shocking revelations in the papers that are now posted online is the fact that a change in bylaws made the Board Quorum only 10 votes, out of the total Board membership of--what?--58? That simple change made all kinds of Board action possible (and legal). Most nonprofit boards are around 15 to 30 members in size, and a quorum is usually half plus one member. It is sad to learn that the long Friday meeting resulted in no change in the "let's end it" decision. And one has to wonder how the Board members responded to Ian Campbell's "poor me" plaint. Sounds like he is quite a narcissist; no wonder the rest of the staff has such disdain for him (enough to file that "hostile workplace" lawsuit)...
— April 11, 2014 9:13 p.m.

San Diego Opera head says all want to save company

Other reporting has quoted Mr. Fabiani as saying he is working "pro bono" for San Diego Opera. It seems patently obvious, with the flurry of things happening in the last day or two, that this "master of disaster," as the SDO staff calls him, has taken charge. Is he truly doing it for no pay? Who knows. But the attorney you mentioned, Mr. Vilaplana, who was seen on Channel 10 when the last board meeting adjourned, definitely was the best man at the Campbell wedding. He also specializes in bankruptcy if that has any import. His bio states: Mr. Vilaplana focuses his practice on the handling of insolvency matters, particularly complicated business bankruptcies and international transactions. His experience includes representing multiple industries with Chapter 11 cases.
— April 11, 2014 12:06 a.m.

Opera: Campbells could get up to $3 million more

Just when you thought it couldn't get crazier, I heard from my wife, who has neighborhood friends at SDO, that they have hired Mark Fabiani as their "crisis management" guru--and he's the guy who works for the Chargers to strategize lobbying for the new stadium! Yikes--he was also a consultant to the Clinton's! Definitely a heavy hitter, but seems kind of late to address a crisis that has so spiraled out of control...
— April 10, 2014 7:29 p.m.

Opera: Campbells could get up to $3 million more

Quite to the contrary, Don. It is clear you are a true opera-lover, and aficionado to boot. When public institutions like SDO (whether privately funded or not, they benefit greatly from tax exemption) do not behave ethically, it is often only journalists who can bring light and truth to a subject. In this case, sadly, you may be tilting at windmills like Don Quixote himself, given the amazing power that Ian Campbell seems to have over his Board. But thanks for trying! You may be helping save opera in San Diego, and that is a noble cause.
— April 9, 2014 10:21 a.m.

Opera: Campbells could get up to $3 million more

I'm not sure about the state of Minnesota, but the City of Minneapolis is exemplary when it comes to support of the arts. The entire power base there encourages philanthropy at a high level. When new companies come into town, shortly thereafter a delegation of corporate CEOs and politicians pay a call asking the new CEO what charities he/she will be supporting and at what level. The whole 5%-to-charity corporate philosophy started in Minneapolis (Target was a big inspirationi), and their mayor is VERY involved not just in arts and culture but with the entire nonprofit community. San Diego has never EVER had even a modicum of that kind of institutionalized pressure to be a "good citizen." We have been lucky to have a few families--the Jacobs, the Copleys, Joan Kroc, Conrad Prebys--who have stepped up in a big way. But no Mayor has been a leader, and generally the corporate community is very cheap in San Diego, with only a few exceptions like Qualcomm. The philanthropic problems plaguing the opera plague many other organizations serving our community. But the sad difference with SDO is that their weak board and strong-arming CEO have thrown in the towel and for some weird reason, want to shut it all down rather than rebuild it or let someone else rebuild it. Someone should take a close look at Faye Wilson and her role in all of this--she seems to have her hands in so many aspects of this tale. One wonders: how much of her own money has she contributed? And what sort of relationship (personally) does she have with the Campbell's and Cohn's?
— April 8, 2014 8:25 p.m.

Opera: Campbells could get up to $3 million more

**Why have we heard nothing from Mayor Faulconer on all of this?** He certainly has enough to say about a Chargers stadium, yet no real leadership regarding the potential loss of this large arts organization and the resulting loss of 400 jobs. It is disgraceful. **And what of the Commission for Arts and Culture?** Every year, the Opera has submitted copious paperwork to get its $350,000+ grant from the City--were they telling the truth in those applications? And if not, what would be the upshot? Why isn't the Chair of the Commission speaking out? Your current reporting may be the most troubling yet. I suspect Mr. Cohn was not authorized to speak, and was going "off the cuff," therefore I tend to believe all he said. And the cocktail party chatter around town has definitely concurred that the reason the Board voted so hastily is that they felt THEY would be personally liable. They were scared for their own pocketbooks, as Don Cohn states here. The scandal of it all is that a beloved organization will be sacrificed on the egos and self-centeredness of a few. ***The best resolution at this point: Ms. Cohn, the Campbell's, and nay-saying Board members resign. Nic Reveles becomes acting general director, Carol Lazier becomes Board chair, and a real strategic planning process begins to rebuild San Diego Opera into a new and viable organization.***
— April 8, 2014 7:22 a.m.

Opera board not provided with information requested

Don, I wouldn't be so dismissive of "modern fare"--that is part of the problem with the Campbell's and SDO in general. This thoughtful piece from KCET in Los Angeles is worth reading: http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/san-di… "But to what extent is this a problem of his own making? Like many baby boomer arts leaders, Campbell finds himself losing a generational race. The breakneck pace of change in the marketplace demands agility, and leaders who are unbending will inevitably reduce their organizations to a hobble. All art forms are faced with the same imperative -- to usher in a new era. This demands innovative solutions to reach new audiences, embrace new technology, diversify product and revenue sources, and chase the elusive goal of relevancy in an increasingly competitive landscape." Don't dismiss the "new era" so quickly just because you didn't like "Nixon in China." If Opera only looks backwards to repertoire, it will never move forward with new generations. I believe that SDO is a victim of its aging Baby Boomer leadership, who pine for the good old days of the late 1980s. There is a reason that leaders need to know when to step down. Ian's time probably passed a few years ago, and now he seems to prefer to bring the ship down with him instead of gracefully, and with dignity (as he says), stepping aside and letting the next generation take their turn. There are a number of other San Diego arts and cultural organizations that are facing the same issues with ossified, aging Baby Boomer executives who make $300,000-$400,000 in salary but long ago "retired" from being vital leaders of their organizations.
— April 7, 2014 5:28 p.m.

Opera board not provided with information requested

Was this piece handed from SDO itself (e.g., in the program), or was it handed out by others out on the plaza? And how did Ian Campbell respond to the boo's when he spoke? It seems to an outsider like me that the opera insiders do NOT want to save the opera, but rather just want it to close. The key issue appears still to be the leadership--that they are hanging on for dear life. It would be so graceful if Ian Campbell resigned, effective immediately, as other arts leaders have done in all kinds and sizes of organizations. He may think only he can run it, but he is wrong.
— April 6, 2014 11:11 a.m.