A Measure of Uncertainty for Symphony

Monday’s resignation of San Diego Symphony executive director Wesley Brustad has added to the uncertainty of the financially fragile orchestra. Although Brustad has agreed to remain in his post until May 1 while a successor is sought, he leaves the board struggling to erase a debt from the 1992 summer season, which Brustad described in the “mid to high $900,000 range.”

Board president Warren Kessler expressed no anxiety over Brustad’s resignation.

“We are in the process of formulating a plan . . . that will remove us from financially troubled times,” said Kessler, although he declined to describe the strategy.

But music director Yoav Talmi did not share Kessler’s optimism.

“I am anxious because the times are so difficult,” Talmi said from his home in Tel Aviv. “We have to get assurance from our community that even in a recession and in a financially difficult period, the San Diego Symphony is an institution that should never be in question.”

Alan Zeiter, executive director of the San Diego Theatre League, noted how much harder it is to raise money in San Diego compared to just two years ago. “We have more arts organizations chasing fewer resources. With several key banks (which had been major donors) out of the picture and the income of local foundations down, it’s twice as hard to raise half the funds.”

Orchestra members, who previously agreed to take an 11% wage reduction at the beginning of the 1992-93 season, continue to be nervous about their future.

“The players’ morale is as high as it could be, considering our future is somewhat uncertain,” said violist Lachlan McBane. Last October’s wage negotiations resulted in layoffs and across-the-board salary reductions among the staff, and included Brustad’s salary being trimmed by 20% to $120,000. (The operating budget is $6.67 million.)

Although red ink is hardly uncommon to orchestras in the ‘90s, the San Diego Symphony has had a traumatic history with deficits. The entire 1986-87 season was canceled because of acrimonious labor-management negotiations and an accumulated $6-million debt, which was in part caused by the purchase of the Fox Theater and its renovation into what is now Copley Symphony Hall. Ironically, Brustad, who was hired just before the 1986-87 season was canceled, earned his credibility leading the campaign that eradicated the huge debt he inherited.

Brustad admitted that after keeping the symphony in the black for five consecutive seasons, he is not up to another rescue operation.

“I’ve done what I set out to do in San Diego, and it’s time to move on,” Brustad said. “I’ve had this feeling since last summer.”

Talmi was not surprised at Brustad’s resignation.

“I had for some time a feeling that this might happen. Since last summer when the orchestra acquired the enormous deficit, the burden grew very heavy--I wouldn’t envy anyone to be in his place. Slowly, I saw that he was losing some of the ardor and enthusiasm for the orchestra’s work.”

Philosophical differences between Brustad and Talmi were not aired publicly, but musicians regularly noted Brustad’s lack of enthusiasm for serious orchestral repertory such as the Bruckner and Mahler cycles Talmi instituted. Brustad’s favored projects were the annual Christmas extravaganza and the summer pops.

The 1992 summer season ticket revenue sagged, however, due, in part, to lackluster programming. And the symphony’s concession income fell when management allowed patrons to bring their own food into the outdoor concert site.

In Talmi’s expectations for the new executive director, one can read what was lacking in his relationship with Brustad.

“(We need) someone who will hopefully see eye to eye with me and the orchestra--where this orchestra is going artistically--and to believe deeply in what we do in the classical field,” Talmi explained.

Brustad, 49, who briefly served as executive director of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra prior to the San Diego post, does not have a new position. He said he intends to remain in performing arts administration, but that he will most likely leave San Diego.