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San Diego Opera settles with former director Ian Campbell

San Diego Opera patrons gather at the Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego before an April performance of "Don Quixote."
(David Ng / Los Angeles Times)
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San Diego Opera said on Friday it has resolved its differences with Ian Campbell, the former longtime general and artistic director who left the company in May after the company’s announcement of its intention to close was met by a significant internal and public backlash.

The opera said in a statement that it has mutually resolved its differences with Campbell and his ex-wife Ann Spira Campbell, a former high-ranking adminstrator at the company. It said the differences arose out of their former employment relationships with the opera.

“Out of respect for each other’s privacy, no further comments about these resolutions will be made by any of the parties,” the opera said in the statement.

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In April, the opera placed Campbell and Ann Spira Campbell on leave. A company spokesman said in an interview at the time that the Campbells would no longer be involved in the day-to-day operations of the organization, but they were still being paid and were technically still part of the company.

The Campbells ended their employment relationship with San Diego Opera in May.

In March, the opera, under Ian Campbell’s leadership, announced that it would be closing due to financial difficulties stemming from declining box-office receipts and donations. The controversial decision caused an internal rift in the company that eventually resulted in the departure of several board members and a new board president.

Under new leadership, San Diego Opera announced in late May that it had reversed its decision to close and would produce a 2015 season.

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Ian Campbell, who is an Australia native, joined San Diego Opera in 1983.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT

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