The Washington Nationwide Opera is leaving its longtime residence on the Kennedy Middle.
Based on the New York Occasions, opera management mentioned the choice stemmed from a drop in attendance and a decline in donor contributions within the wake of Donald Trump’s takeover of the venue, in addition to the following wave of artists who’ve canceled their very own performances on the Kennedy Middle in protest. In latest weeks, Depraved composer Stephen Schwartz and Grammy-winning banjoist Béla Fleck have pulled out of scheduled appearances with the opera.
“Right this moment, the Washington Nationwide Opera introduced its determination to hunt an amicable early termination of its affiliation settlement with the Kennedy Middle and resume operations as a completely unbiased nonprofit entity,” the opera mentioned in a press release to the New York Occasions.
On account of the decision, accepted by its board of trustees on Friday, the WNO will transfer out of the Kennedy Middle’s Opera Home, the place it has known as residence since 1971, and search a brand new efficiency area in Washington, DC.
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Along with the aforementioned monetary and attendance woes, opera officers advised the New York Occasions that programming disagreements with Kennedy Middle management additionally factored into their determination to go away the venue. WNO officers cited directives like ordering the opera to open each live performance with a efficiency of nationwide anthem, the hiring of a dance director who complained about “radical leftist ideologies in ballet,” and Kennedy Middle president Ric Grenell’s push for all productions to be income impartial.
In a press release to ipromiseyoumedia, a Kennedy Middle spokesperson claimed that its management, not the Washington Nationwide Opera, initiated the break up. “After cautious consideration, we’ve made the tough determination to half methods with the WNO because of a financially difficult relationship. We imagine this represents the very best path ahead for each organizations and allows us to make accountable decisions that help the monetary stability and long-term way forward for the Trump Kennedy Middle.”
Grenell expanded on the choice in his personal social media submit. “The Trump Kennedy Middle has made the choice to finish the unique partnership with the Washington Opera in order that we will have the pliability and funds to herald operas from all over the world and throughout the US,” Grenell wrote. “Having an unique Opera was simply not financially good. And our patrons clearly wished a refresh.”
The Trump Kennedy Middle has made the choice to finish the unique partnership with the Washington Opera in order that we will have the pliability and funds to herald operas from all over the world and throughout the U.S.
Having an unique relationship has been extraordinarily costly and… https://t.co/rN6kSVRp7z
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 10, 2026
