Guno צְבִי
We fight, We win, Am Yisrael Chai
The Washington National Opera will stop performing at the former John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the first time since 1971, following the venue's controversial name change.
The newly named Trump-Kennedy Center for the Arts confirmed that the "difficult decision" to part ways with the opera is due to a "financially challenging relationship."
Since the center's renaming, several musicians and creatives have publicly canceled performances or cut ties with the organization in protest.
On Jan. 6, Nashville banjoist Béla Fleck confirmed he would skip a scheduled performance alongside the National Symphony Orchestra as it had "become charged and political," when "the focus should be on the music."
"Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz also recently said he would no longer host a gala at the historic institution. The musical theater composer and lyricist told Newsday he was invited last February to participate in the Washington National Opera's 2026 gala at the center.
The newly named Trump-Kennedy Center for the Arts confirmed that the "difficult decision" to part ways with the opera is due to a "financially challenging relationship."
Since the center's renaming, several musicians and creatives have publicly canceled performances or cut ties with the organization in protest.
On Jan. 6, Nashville banjoist Béla Fleck confirmed he would skip a scheduled performance alongside the National Symphony Orchestra as it had "become charged and political," when "the focus should be on the music."
"Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz also recently said he would no longer host a gala at the historic institution. The musical theater composer and lyricist told Newsday he was invited last February to participate in the Washington National Opera's 2026 gala at the center.
