> At a Glance
> – The Washington National Opera will leave the Kennedy Center after 50 years
> – Center’s new policy demands shows be fully funded before curtain time
> – Why it matters: Opera fans face a shortened spring season and new venues
The Washington National Opera has pulled the plug on its decades-long residency at the Kennedy Center, citing a cash-up-front policy it says makes mounting opera impossible.
The Breakup
The company announced Friday it will trim its spring season and stage shows elsewhere. Officials blamed the Center’s new business model that requires every production budget to be locked in advance.
> “To ensure fiscal prudence and fulfill its obligations for a balanced budget, the WNO will reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues,” the Opera said in a statement.
Center spokesperson Roma Daravi framed the split as mutual.
> “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship,” she told The New York Times.
Backdrop of Turmoil
The move lands amid wider fallout from the Center’s leadership shake-up. Since President Trump replaced the board last year, high-profile acts including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Peter Wolf have scrapped engagements. December’s vote to rebrand the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center triggered another wave of cancellations.
The Opera’s statement did not mention Trump.
Key Takeaways
- The WNO’s exit ends a partnership dating back to 1971
- Spring performances will be staged at alternative D.C. venues
- The Center’s pre-funding rule clashes with opera’s typical pay-as-you-earn cash flow
With contracts still being negotiated, the company says it hopes for an “amicable transition” while audiences await details on where the music will play next.
