San Diego Opera Crowdfunding Bid Raises $300,000 in 3 Days

Turning to the crowd for financing to put on its next season, the embattled San Diego Opera took in more than $300,000 in the opening days of a $1-million online campaign, arts-news site Classicalite writes.

The campaign, launched Friday and running through May 19, is the latest move in efforts by the opera’s reconfigured board to save the 49-year-old company, which had been slated to shut down this month.

Also on Friday, the board placed Ian Campbell, the opera’s longtime general and artistic director, on indefinite leave, according to KPBS. Mr. Campbell was viewed by some as the guiding hand in the initial board vote in March to close the opera in the face of dwindling attendance and financial support.

“We have an amazing opera to fight for because of what Ian Campbell built,” said Carol Lazier, who has led efforts to keep the opera open and took over as acting board president earlier this month. “But we need new leadership because we have a different vision now.”