San Diego (Top40 Charts / San Diego Opera) The San
Diego Opera (Opera) will wind down operations upon the conclusion of its final performance of the 2014 Season on , according to Opera General & Artistic Director, CEO .
"After nearly 50 years as a cultural cornerstone providing world-class performances, we saw we faced an insurmountable financial hurdle going forward," Campbell explained. "We had a choice of winding down with dignity and grace, making every effort to fulfill our financial obligations, or inevitably entering bankruptcy, as have several other opera companies.
"Our Board voted today to take the first choice. We will begin winding down operations after the last performance of on Sunday, April 13," he added. "After that, it will take an indeterminate period of time to complete that process."
Board Chair described it as a heart-wrenching, but unavoidable decision. "After 28 consecutive years of balanced budgets, it was clear that we could not continue. In spite of excellent financial management, the Opera faced increasingly higher ticket-sale and fund-raising hurdles."
The Opera, ranked among the top 10 opera companies in the nation by Opera America, and one of 13 Cornerstone Arts Organizations by the
James Irving Foundation, exemplified product quality. The U-T San
Diego arts writer recently wrote, "If you had to identify a single opera that embodied the values and aspirations of the Opera, you'd have to point to its exceptional production of A Masked Ball."
But both the patron base and donor base for opera companies are diminishing. Opera is not an isolated example. Other opera companies that have gone out of business include the Opera, Opera Boston, Opera Cleveland, Opera, Opera and, closer to home, Lyric Opera San
Diego and Opera Pacific in
The Opera will stage one performance of Requiem, and four performances of Massenet's , 8, 11 and 13 before ceasing operations.
"Although it is a sad day for culturally, we have to thank everyone who supported us for nearly 50 years," Campbell added. "It is better to go out with dignity, on a high note with heads held high than to slip into the night, leaving creditors and community in the lurch."
The Opera originated as the Opera Guild in 1950. The Opera Association was incorporated in 1965, and current General & Artistic Director, CEO was hired from the Metropolitan Opera in 1983.
