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, {…}
The fully staged production of “West Side Story” by the Washington National Opera (WNO) at Lyric Baltimore is an example of turning a disaster into a great success. Making a calculated and difficult decision, WNO decided to take the company out of the former Kennedy Center. Unlike City Opera in New York, WNO’s decision was a moral choice, not a {…}
(Credit: Tim Trumble Photography) The Washington National Opera is set to present “Fellow Travelers” during the 2027-28 season. The company announced the news in its press release for the 2026-27 season. Greg Spears’ opera will be performed in March 2028. Set in Washington D.C., “Fellow Travelers” is a gay love story set against the backdrop a forgotten chapter of LGBTQ+ {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2026-27 season. Opera The season opens with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in a production by E. Loren Meeker. Karah Son sings the title role with Matthew White, and Michelle Mariposa. Erina Yashima conducts. Performance Dates: Nov. 7-20, 2026 John Adams’ “Nixon in China” will be conducted by Robert Spano and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer. Renée {…}
Marc A. Scorca, the President Emeritus of Opera America, has joined the board of Washington National Opera. Scorca’s appointment comes as Washington National Opera’s kicks off a new chapter in its history away from the Trump-led John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Scorca is regarded as one of the most influential leaders in the American opera field and {…}
(Credit: Scott Suchman) On March 21, the Washington National Opera opened “The Crucible,” its second production of the spring season at the Lisner Auditorium. The Washington National Opera’s decision to showcase this work spotlights the importance of art’s resilience in times where where institutions like the John. F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are being taken over by regimes {…}
Plácido Domingo has made a statement following an article by the Washington Post that said that the legendary singer had brought the Washington National Opera (WNO) to turmoil and a near-bankruptcy. In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post, Domingo said, “For the second time, I am writing to the editor of The Post, but this time I {…}
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 {…}
New details have been revealed regarding the Washington National Opera’s departure from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In a new report from the Washington Post, it has been revealed that Artistic Director Francesca Zambello’s Guardian interview, in which she first suggested the possibility of leaving the Kennedy Center, was what set the company in motion to {…}
Washington National Opera is showing solidarity to the Minnesota Opera and Minnesota community. The D.C. company shared Minnesota Opera’s statement regarding the protests and said, “We stand with our colleagues at Minnesota Opera and with all those impacted by the heartbreaking events unfolding in Minnesota.” It added, “We are sharing this statement from Minnesota Opera President & General Director Ryan {…}
Following the departure of the Washington National Opera’s decision to leave the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, more than 60 artists have signed an open letter pledging support to the company. The letter, which is an ongoing effort organized by Pulitzer and Grammy-award winning librettist Mark Campbell, states “We, the undersigned, support the recent decision between Washington {…}