Letter to the Editor: A less grand opera

Editor’s Note:  It was announced earlier this week that the San Diego Opera will close its doors at the end of the current season.  General director Ian  Campbell said while the Opera is solvent today, financial prospects for the future are bleak. 

By Cantor Sheldon Merel

ENCINITAS, California — The closing of Grand Opera in San Diego is a tremendous loss of talent, great music, culture and “class” for San Diego city and county.  Unfortunately, Grand Opera is expensive ,and without government support as some opera companies receive in Europe, it has obviously become unsustainable in most American cities.

The demise of our precious San Diego Opera company leaves a tremendous vacuum , but hopefully after the dust settles a new musical prophet will arise to fill a portion of our loss.  While our community can not financially sustain “Grand “ opera, it may be possible to support a new and less ambitious opera company. A new company to perform in a smaller auditorium (Symphony Hall size) with fewer instruments, simpler sets and costumes.

There are many talented and experienced singers available at a lower tier of cost who could continue to bring San Diego contemporary and classical operas in a new venue.  With a more accessible budget, tickets might be more affordable, and attract a greater cross section of our community.

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Sheldon Merel is cantor emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel.  He and his wife Marcie are now residents at Seacrest Village Retirement Home in Encinitas.

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