Washington National Opera to leave Kennedy Center after Trump renaming

The Washington National Opera announced it will end its affiliation with the Kennedy Center, reduce part of its spring season, and relocate performances; the Kennedy Center said the split reflects a financially challenging relationship after the venue was renamed to include President Trump’s name.

The Washington National Opera announced it will leave the Kennedy Center after decades of performing there. The company said the move is intended to ensure fiscal prudence, that it will reduce its spring season, and that it plans to relocate performances to new venues. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said the organizations parted ways because of a financially challenging relationship after the center adopted a new name honoring President Donald Trump. Key points: - The WNO said it is ending its affiliation with the Kennedy Center and will operate as an independent nonprofit while arranging new performance spaces. - The opera organization announced a reduced spring season and said it will name new venues in the coming weeks. - The Kennedy Center described the separation as a difficult but necessary decision tied to financial considerations. - The center’s recent renaming to include President Trump’s name has prompted some artists to cancel or cut ties, according to reporting. Summary: The move ends a decades-long residence for the Washington National Opera and shifts its performances to other venues. The WNO says it will announce new performance spaces soon and called the transition amicable; specific timeline details for the full transition are undetermined at this time.