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Millions for football in San Diego, zilch for opera
Clearly, Faulconer's backers put him into office (and annihilated Nathan Fletcher's candidacy so he wouldn't challenge the dull Kevin) so that they could rake in all the millions that will accrue to developers and the Spanos family if a new stadium is built. It's amazing that people don't see the connection, and are more skeptical. It only took Faulconer a short while in office before he started "paying back" his supporters by initiating stadium talks. Yet he plays a completely different card when it comes to arts and culture--he could easily help make the 50th anniversary season of the opera possible simply by waiving or drastically reducing the rental fee on the Civic theater. That would be a real statement of city support and endorsement of SDO, Ms. Lazier, and the dedicated staff and (remaining) board members who want this company to survive. What are the chances Faulconer could be so inspired???— April 23, 2014 9:28 a.m.
Opera operative advised no discussion of fat checks
You are thinking of the Dow Divas. A large number of those women are the ones who have resigned. But the group did give a large sum to the 50th anniversary season. Presumably that amount, I think perhaps $500,000, is still available should they choose to use it that way.— April 22, 2014 8:50 p.m.
Opera operative advised no discussion of fat checks
And your comment just confirms my point: the Board is ultimately culpable--for letting the CEO lead them around by the nose, and for letting him run an operation where no dissent was tolerated. I'm well aware that the Campbell's stacked the deck in their favor by building a board with majority supporters. But that doesn't let the Board off the hook from their ultimate governance and fiduciary responsibility as described by nonprofit law. The buck stops with them, and they could fire their CEO. What got perverse is that the CEO and his deputy apparently were able to "fire" the one president of the Board who opposed them--Stacy Rosenberg. Of course, they didn't do it themselves, they just manipulated the inner circle of Board members to freeze her out till she resigned. But again, the Board had free will AND governance responsibility. They just chose to ignore it.— April 22, 2014 7:07 a.m.
Opera operative advised no discussion of fat checks
It is ridiculous for people who do not know the Campbell's to be speculating on their marriage or divorce. Familes come together and break apart in thousands of different ways, and divorce does not need to be acrimonious. Everyone deserves privacy, including the Campbell's. And in any case, this has nothing to do with what happened at SDO. There is plenty of blame to go around, but ultimately it is the Board of Directors who are the most culpable. Ian Campbell reports to them, and only to them. If the Board knew fully what financial catastrophe was coming, they were irresponsible not to call for drastic cuts. As someone said, a 20% cut back in 2009 or 2010 could have resulted in enough savings to stablize things. And if the CEO was incapable of managing, the Board should have fired him. Furthermore, if the head of fundraising couldn't raise enough money, then her supervisor should have fired her. Instead, there seems to have been many mysterious goings-on, often tied in to Faye Wilson, who clearly had enormous power--and wielded it when needed. People should focus on the mismanagement and misdeeds of the Board and the senior staff of SDO (not just the Campbell's, but there are others who are also culpable); they should lay off inappropriate (and incorrect) speculation about the marriage and divorce of Ian and Ann Campbell.— April 21, 2014 6:28 p.m.
Opera operative advised no discussion of fat checks
I would very much doubt that any board members received any direct travel perks from SDO. But I am sure that the "expense accounts" of the senior staff management were more than generous, and it is well known that Ian traveled to Europe often and did not skimp. I'm sure that there was also a lot of entertaining of donors, something that is not uncommon in nonprofit arts organizations. But most ethical donors do not want to see their charitable dollars going to entertain "themselves" and often make a point to pick up the tab for such entertaining. One wonders if that was a common practice at SDO?— April 19, 2014 9:03 p.m.
Opera operative advised no discussion of fat checks
Somewhere along the line in the 20th century, opera became "elitist." But originally, it was truly the people's art form--a raucous, entertaining, thoroughly populist manner of storytelling. It strikes me, seeing the images of beautifully coiffed and expensively dressed women like Karen Cohn, Ann Campbell, and others at the San Diego Opera: why didn't they do more to reach out to ordinary people? Why were all the fundraising efforts aimed at just the tiny small slice of big donors? Clearly, those are the ones who have dug the grave of SDO, and who have so shunned any potential change of direction that reeks of "populism." This editorial in the UT makes some good points: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/apr/19/tp-roo… I do hope that new Chair Carol Lazier goes ahead and thanks and dismisses Ian and Ann Campbell. They, too, got so used to hanging around with the very rich that they seem to have come to believe they were also part of that crowd and ergo the big salaries, cars, "executive health plans," and so forth. Many people inside the opera still feel pessimistic that anything good can come of all this, but I remain an optimist and hope that good sense and a bit of humility prevail. Maybe our empty-suit-mayor might even step up, and offer for the 50th anniversary season to waive or at least discount the Civic Theater rental for a few stellar SDO performances next year. And the rest of the season can be held in other fine venues like the Neurosciences hall, Sherwood Hall at the museum in La Jolla, or even the Jacobs hall at Qualcomm. Come on, people, get creative!— April 19, 2014 10:30 a.m.
Opera operative advised no discussion of fat checks
What is the "Mill" you refer to? Can you send a link?— April 18, 2014 11:28 a.m.
Might Chargers eye property occupied by opera studio?
KPBS reported Karen Cohn walked out, and may have resigned. That "fraud" possibility seems far-fetched and fear-mongering to me. I wonder which lawyer told them that and if he/she had any conflicts of interest as Mr. Vilaplana clearly does?— April 17, 2014 6:05 p.m.
Might Chargers eye property occupied by opera studio?
I would imagine Ian won't be welcomed with open arms. And he'd be a mighty small fish in a big bowl. Would his ego survive?— April 16, 2014 3:08 p.m.
Might Chargers eye property occupied by opera studio?
Even the New York Times is getting in on the act: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/14/arts/music/deat…— April 15, 2014 5:18 p.m.