Washington National Opera to Break Ties with Kennedy Center After 55 Years
In a shocking move, the Washington National Opera has announced that it will be parting ways with the iconic Kennedy Center after 55 years of collaboration. The decision comes as the opera seeks to distance itself from the center's increasingly contentious reputation under its new leadership.
According to an official statement, the opera has decided to terminate its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center due to a "financially challenging relationship." This decision marks another significant blow to the once-respected performing arts venue, which has been marred by controversy in recent months.
The opera's board and staff cited a desire to operate as an independent entity, free from what they described as a "business model" that is at odds with their own non-profit operations. While not explicitly mentioning President Trump or his rebranding of the Kennedy Center, the statement suggested that the organization sought to break ties with an administration that has been seen as hostile to artistic expression and cultural institutions.
The news comes on the heels of a wave of cancellations at the Kennedy Center, including performances by prominent artists such as Bela Fleck, Stephen Schwartz, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. These events have been sparked by protests against Trump's self-appointment as chairman of the establishment, with many artists expressing outrage over what they see as an infringement on their values.
The opera itself has vowed to continue its work and celebrate its 70th anniversary as a fully independent entity, separate from the Kennedy Center. In a statement, Chuck Redd, who led the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam since 2006, explained that he chose to cancel his concert in response to the name change at the center.
"We're just not going to be part of it," Miranda said, echoing Redd's sentiments. "This latest action by Trump means it's not the Kennedy Center as we knew it." The opera's decision to break ties with the Kennedy Center marks a significant shift for the organization, one that reflects its commitment to artistic independence and integrity in the face of increasingly contentious politics.
In a shocking move, the Washington National Opera has announced that it will be parting ways with the iconic Kennedy Center after 55 years of collaboration. The decision comes as the opera seeks to distance itself from the center's increasingly contentious reputation under its new leadership.
According to an official statement, the opera has decided to terminate its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center due to a "financially challenging relationship." This decision marks another significant blow to the once-respected performing arts venue, which has been marred by controversy in recent months.
The opera's board and staff cited a desire to operate as an independent entity, free from what they described as a "business model" that is at odds with their own non-profit operations. While not explicitly mentioning President Trump or his rebranding of the Kennedy Center, the statement suggested that the organization sought to break ties with an administration that has been seen as hostile to artistic expression and cultural institutions.
The news comes on the heels of a wave of cancellations at the Kennedy Center, including performances by prominent artists such as Bela Fleck, Stephen Schwartz, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. These events have been sparked by protests against Trump's self-appointment as chairman of the establishment, with many artists expressing outrage over what they see as an infringement on their values.
The opera itself has vowed to continue its work and celebrate its 70th anniversary as a fully independent entity, separate from the Kennedy Center. In a statement, Chuck Redd, who led the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam since 2006, explained that he chose to cancel his concert in response to the name change at the center.
"We're just not going to be part of it," Miranda said, echoing Redd's sentiments. "This latest action by Trump means it's not the Kennedy Center as we knew it." The opera's decision to break ties with the Kennedy Center marks a significant shift for the organization, one that reflects its commitment to artistic independence and integrity in the face of increasingly contentious politics.
. I get what they're saying, though - the op's been feeling like it's lost some of its artistic edge under all this Trump drama 
. It's a shame that it had to come to this, 'cause I love the arts and I feel like we should be celebrating our cultural institutions, not distancing ourselves from them 
. The fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda is speaking out against Trump's actions means there are still some talented folks who care about what matters 
. Still, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out - will the op find a new home and keep doing what they do best? 
i think this is a no-brainer for me - arts should be about self-expression not politics lol they're trying to distance themselves from all the drama that's been going on at the Kennedy Center, and honestly can't blame them 
maybe now they can focus on what really matters: putting on sick shows for the DC community
... I mean, I get it, the opera's gotta stand up for what they believe in, but can't they just keep it civil? 
I'm actually kinda nostalgic for those old-school Kennedy Center days 
... now it's all about controversy and drama 
. It's like they're throwing out the baby with the bathwater 
... or in this case, the arts are getting thrown under the bus 
. I mean, what's gonna happen to all those talented artists who've performed there? 
Will they just disappear into thin air like that? 
It's a shame, man 
... I guess you could say this is the end of an era 
.
55 years is a looong time! i feel bad for the artists who were gonna perform there tho... lin-manuel miranda's been very vocal about it too 
guess they wanna do their own thang now 
the kennedy center has been a joke for ages and now the national opera is getting out while they still can 
they're not going to be held hostage by trump's ego anymore, about time too 
now it's just a matter of when someone else is going to bail them out 
. The opera is making a smart move by distancing themselves from this toxic environment. It's time for some real leadership, and I'm glad to see them taking a stand for artistic integrity! 
. It's cool to see them prioritizing what really matters – the art, not politics 
!
about the Washington National Opera breaking ties with the Kennedy Center after 55 years! It seems like they're trying to distance themselves from the drama 
It's a shame, too, because I loved attending their shows at the Kennedy Center 
their whole operation is all about who's your friend and who you can screw over for a paycheck. opera companies are supposed to be about art, not about making enemies. 55 years of collaboration and it takes an opera company 5 seconds to realize they're stuck in a bad relationship? lol what a joke... now they get to have some pseudo-credibility by saying "we want to break ties with the system"... give me a break 
