Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope other prominent arts organizations follow their lead. Looking at you, Vienna Philharmonic.

So disappointing by the Vienna Philharmonic. I wonder if they've done it because the Berlin Philharmonic came in November 2024 and they want to keep up.

[Anonymous]

If you read further in, this isn't just about the name, they were forcing certain performance rules on WNO that were making performances impossible.

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/10/nx-s1-5671107/kennedy-center-canceled-trump-washington-national-opera-wno

"the center's new business model, which requires productions to be fully-funded in advance, is incompatible with the usual mix of ticket sales, grants and donations that cannot all be secured ahead.

Opera companies typically cover only 30-60% of costs through ticket sales, with the remainder from grants and donations that cannot be secured years ahead when productions must be planned," the statement said.

The company added the model also does not accommodate its artistic mission, which aims to balance popular works such as West Side Story, slated for May 2026, with more obscure and experimental operas, such as the little-known Scott Joplin work, Treemonisha, scheduled for March. "Revenue from major productions traditionally subsidizes smaller, innovative works," the statement said.Opera companies typically cover only 30-60% of costs through ticket sales, with the remainder from grants and donations that cannot be secured years ahead when productions must be planned," the statement said."

WNO was also losing donations and seeing ticket sales fall due to the KC takeover, so basically they had no choice here. The damage from the controversy combined with these rules made it financially impossible for them to stay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much to protest right now, but if you are a patron of the arts, this entire boycott is dumb. I won’t call it the Trump Kennedy Center, (and it’s the Department of Defense and the Gulf of Mexico), but unless they were telling the resident companies which pieces they could and could not do, it’s the arts that get harmed. I would not spend my money on shows and performances in which I had no interest or could be construed as a bribe, but if other people wanted to because it’s what they want to see, that not my concern. We are starting to hit the point where everything I want to see is canceled but I’m still not sure how that’s helping the artists.

How can you call it dumb? This was an authoritarian takeover of a venerable bipartisan institution. For a president who only cares about revenues and self-glorification, you have to hit him where it hurts.

If it’s a bipartisan institution, then why can’t its name include both a republican and a democrat?

I'm so glad you feel that way. I hope you enjoy flying out of the Obama-Reagan National Airport.

Marry me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait - is the Washington National Opera different from the National Symphony Orchestra?

Yes, and it has its own orchestra, separate from the NSO, https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/k/ka-kn/the-kennedy-center-opera-house-orchestra/.

This orchestra performs for all the operas but also for many of the touring ballets and musical theaters. I wonder what will happen now... will the orchestra still perform for the ballets/musical theaters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Kennedy center is gonna be ruined and fall into decay like something out of Detroit. Thanks a lot trump.

Actually the Detroit theaters were well kept and are stunning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much to protest right now, but if you are a patron of the arts, this entire boycott is dumb. I won’t call it the Trump Kennedy Center, (and it’s the Department of Defense and the Gulf of Mexico), but unless they were telling the resident companies which pieces they could and could not do, it’s the arts that get harmed. I would not spend my money on shows and performances in which I had no interest or could be construed as a bribe, but if other people wanted to because it’s what they want to see, that not my concern. We are starting to hit the point where everything I want to see is canceled but I’m still not sure how that’s helping the artists.

How can you call it dumb? This was an authoritarian takeover of a venerable bipartisan institution. For a president who only cares about revenues and self-glorification, you have to hit him where it hurts.

If it’s a bipartisan institution, then why can’t its name include both a republican and a democrat?

I'm so glad you feel that way. I hope you enjoy flying out of the Obama-Reagan National Airport.

Laughable. Only thing that would ever be named after Obama is something he names after himself, like his eyesore library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much to protest right now, but if you are a patron of the arts, this entire boycott is dumb. I won’t call it the Trump Kennedy Center, (and it’s the Department of Defense and the Gulf of Mexico), but unless they were telling the resident companies which pieces they could and could not do, it’s the arts that get harmed. I would not spend my money on shows and performances in which I had no interest or could be construed as a bribe, but if other people wanted to because it’s what they want to see, that not my concern. We are starting to hit the point where everything I want to see is canceled but I’m still not sure how that’s helping the artists.

How can you call it dumb? This was an authoritarian takeover of a venerable bipartisan institution. For a president who only cares about revenues and self-glorification, you have to hit him where it hurts.

If it’s a bipartisan institution, then why can’t its name include both a republican and a democrat?

I'm so glad you feel that way. I hope you enjoy flying out of the Obama-Reagan National Airport.

Laughable. Only thing that would ever be named after Obama is something he names after himself, like his eyesore library.

HA! Hilarious - love that PP's "Obama-Reagan airport" point was so very clearly made by the above response. Hook, line, sinker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is so much to protest right now, but if you are a patron of the arts, this entire boycott is dumb. I won’t call it the Trump Kennedy Center, (and it’s the Department of Defense and the Gulf of Mexico), but unless they were telling the resident companies which pieces they could and could not do, it’s the arts that get harmed. I would not spend my money on shows and performances in which I had no interest or could be construed as a bribe, but if other people wanted to because it’s what they want to see, that not my concern. We are starting to hit the point where everything I want to see is canceled but I’m still not sure how that’s helping the artists.

How can you call it dumb? This was an authoritarian takeover of a venerable bipartisan institution. For a president who only cares about revenues and self-glorification, you have to hit him where it hurts.

If it’s a bipartisan institution, then why can’t its name include both a republican and a democrat?

I'm so glad you feel that way. I hope you enjoy flying out of the Obama-Reagan National Airport.

Laughable. Only thing that would ever be named after Obama is something he names after himself, like his eyesore library.

Sure, I mean the only thing Trump can get named after him is if he fires and bullies people into doing it.

[Anonymous]

Melania' doc to premiere at Trump's Kennedy Center

Portrait of Anna Kaufman Anna Kaufman
USA TODAY
Updated Jan. 12, 2026, 2:10 p.m. ET

Talking to reporters on Air Force One Sunday, the president said a new documentary about his wife, first lady Melania Trump, would not disappoint. The project, set to be released on Amazon Prime Video Jan. 30, will premiere at the newly named Trump Kennedy Center.

"I've seen pieces of it, it's incredible," he said. "Everybody wants tickets to the premiere. I think it’s going to be great."

[Anonymous]

With all that’s going on between Trump and Europe, how long until the Vienna Philharmonic bails?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all that’s going on between Trump and Europe, how long until the Vienna Philharmonic bails?

Trump didn't put the additional tariffs on Austria the way it did with Germany, France, Denmark etc. I would guess that Austria won't want to do anything to antagonize Trump, how ever minor. No one wants to poke the crazy bear.

[Anonymous]

Martha Graham Dance company and Doug Varone and the Dancers have pulled out of the Kennedy Center. I mean who will be left to perform at the KC. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With all that’s going on between Trump and Europe, how long until the Vienna Philharmonic bails?

Trump didn't put the additional tariffs on Austria the way it did with Germany, France, Denmark etc. I would guess that Austria won't want to do anything to antagonize Trump, how ever minor. No one wants to poke the crazy bear.

But who will purchase tickets to see them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Martha Graham Dance company and Doug Varone and the Dancers have pulled out of the Kennedy Center. I mean who will be left to perform at the KC. Yikes.

Kanye? Trump pardoned Mel Gibson for his domestic violence crimes. Maybe him?