Opera House Shifts: Washington National Opera Moves On

The Washington National Opera is saying goodbye to the Kennedy Center after 52 years. This move comes after new rules at the center made it hard for the opera to keep its usual way of funding shows. The opera group said the Kennedy Center's new policy, which requires full funding before any production starts, doesn't work with how operas usually get money. Most of an opera's costs come from ticket sales, grants, and donations, but these can't all be locked in years ahead of time. The opera's artistic director, Francesca Zambello, shared her sadness about leaving but also looked forward to new opportunities. She said the opera will keep its mission to perform a mix of popular and experimental works. The Kennedy Center, on the other hand, said the split was due to financial challenges and that ending the exclusive partnership will allow them to bring in more varied performances.This isn't the first time artists have left the Kennedy Center recently. Since President Donald Trump became chairman of the Kennedy Center's board, many artists have canceled their performances. They cited political reasons, including the center's name change and the ousting of Democratic board members. The Kennedy Center's director, Richard Grenell, has responded to these cancellations by saying artists should focus on entertainment and not politics. Among the artists who canceled were the musical "Hamilton, " singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos, and jazz musician Béla Fleck. They all expressed concerns about the political climate at the center. The Kennedy Center has faced backlash from ticket buyers, performers, and some board members, including Shonda Rhimes. Despite the cancellations, the Kennedy Center seems determined to move forward with its new direction.