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Business, News

Washington National Opera Files Lawsuit Against Kennedy Center

https://operawire.com/washington-national-opera-files-lawsuit-against-kennedy-center/

The Washington National Opera (WNO) has filed a lawsuit against the Kennedy Center. According to the New York Times, the company alleges that Kennedy Center failed to return over $17 million in donations made to the organization after they split earlier this year. The court filing, which was made on June 11 in the United States Court of Federal Claims, states, {…}

News

Metropolitan Opera Announces Summer Encores featuring Renée Fleming & Angel Blue

https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-announces-summer-encores-featuring-renee-fleming-angel-blue/

The Metropolitan Opera has announced the summer encores its Live in HD series. The company will first present the 2015 performances of Lehár’s “The Merry Widow” on July 22, directed by Susan Stroman and starring renowned soprano Renée Fleming. The cast also includes Nathan Gunn and Kelli O’Hara. Andrew Davis conducts. The second will be a 2025 transmission of the Met’s {…}

News

Soprano Anastasia Malliaras Wins Indy Award for Opera Santa Barbara Production

https://operawire.com/soprano-anastasia-malliaras-wins-indy-award-for-opera-santa-barbara-production/

Soprano Anastasia Malliaras has been honored with an Indy Award for her portrayal of Cleopatra in Opera Santa Barbara’s February 2026 production of “Caesar and Cleopatra.” The award was presented on May 18 at the 2026 Indy Awards ceremony, an annual celebration of excellence across the Santa Barbara performing arts landscape. Members of the Opera Santa Barbara company joined Malliaras {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Opera Forward Festival 2026 Review: Les Enfants Terribles

https://operawire.com/opera-forward-festival-2026-review-les-enfants-terribles/

(Photo: Joost Milde) Amsterdam’s Opera Forward Festival played it safe with a staging of Philip Glass’s “Les Enfants Terrible,” not that it was any less enjoyable for the fact. Glass’s operas can, with their mix of strong, thought-provoking narratives and accessible, exciting and energetic music, almost guarantee to bring in the audiences. And this was certainly the case here. Written {…}

Business, News

Following Kennedy Center Breakup, Washington National Opera Announces New Venues & Dates for ‘West Side Story’

https://operawire.com/following-kennedy-center-breakup-washington-national-opera-announces-new-venues-dates-for-west-side-story/

The Washington National Opera has announced venues and dates for its production of Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” The company revealed that it will perform the work at the Lyric Baltimore on May 8, 9, 10 and at the Music Center at Strathmore, May 14 and 15, 2026. In a statement, WNO General Director Timothy O’Leary said, “We are grateful that {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Opéra National de Paris 2025-26 Review: Un Ballo in Maschera

https://operawire.com/opera-national-de-paris-2025-26-review-un-ballo-in-maschera/

The etymology of the Italian word “maschera” (and its English equivalent “mask”) is rather obscure. It’s derived from the Arabic word “maskara,” meaning buffoonery and/or harsh derision. Indeed, a closer look at “Un ballo in maschera” reveals a higher degree of caustic bite far beyond the final act’s famous masked ball. Amelia seeks help from the soothsayer Ulrica to rid {…}

Behind the Scenes, Interviews

Q & A: Francesco Lodola on Starting Ben Artists Management & the Joy of Working With Opera Singers

https://operawire.com/q-a-francesco-lodola-on-starting-ben-artists-management-the-joy-of-working-with-opera-singers/

(Credit: ©️Alessandro Lodola) In 2022, Francesco Lodola founded Ben Artists, a management and public relations agency for artists that support artists.  Lodola is a graduate in his city in Science of Communication and started studying piano since he was seven years old, attending the Liceo Musicale where he had the opportunity to deepen the theoretical and practical aspects of music {…}

News

Washington National Opera to Leave Kennedy Center

https://operawire.com/washington-national-opera-to-leave-kennedy-center/

The Washington National Opera has announced it is leaving the Kennedy Center. In a statement to The New York Times, the company said, “Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity.” According to the article, the Opera’s {…}

News

Washington National Opera Considers Exiting the Kennedy Center

https://operawire.com/washington-national-opera-considers-exiting-the-kennedy-center/

UPDATE: On the Record: Andy Pharoah, President of the WNO Board of Trustees has said in a statement “The WNO has no plans to move out of the Kennedy Center and we are proud to be part of America’s cultural center, entering our 70th season.” The Washington National Opera (WNO) is considering leaving the Kennedy Center. In a report from {…}