The Washington National Opera (WNO) has decided to leave its 44-year affiliation with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, citing financial difficulties caused by the center’s new leadership under President Donald Trump.
Artistic director Francesca Zambello sparked the controversy when she gave an interview to The Guardian in November, revealing that the opera was facing empty seats and plummeting donations due to Trump’s polarizing takeover of the arts center. She stated that some supporters had ripped up their membership cards and sent them back with angry notes.
The Kennedy Center’s new leadership, including Richard Grenell, had requested that the opera board consider ending its affiliation agreement. The board ultimately voted to dissolve the partnership on January 9, citing financial reasons.
“We are not doing this because of the name change,” said attorney Kenneth Feinberg, a longtime opera board member. “It is strictly dollars and cents, and the Kennedy Center’s inability to understand the economics of how opera works.”
The decision was made possible by Zambello’s candid interview, which brought attention to the opera’s financial struggles. The company had been facing significant challenges since Trump’s appointment as chairman of the Kennedy Center in February 2025.
WNO will now plan its post-Kennedy Center future and may consider relocating to alternative venues in the District. The company’s board members expressed concerns about the impact on the audience, who have already stopped attending performances due to Trump’s leadership.
“It has nothing to do with the name change,” said board member Daniel Glaser. “It is strictly dollars and cents, and we need to find a way to be financially stable.”
WNO will continue to perform at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium for its upcoming productions of “Treemonisha” and “The Crucible.”
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2026/02/11/kennedy-center-washington-opera-split