"The Washington National Opera (WNO) announced on Friday it is moving its performances out of the John F Kennedy Center, where it has been performing since 1971, according to a New York Times report. Francesca Zambello, WNO's artistic director, had said in November that the move was a possibility as a result of the takeover of the center by Donald Trump. Trump declared himself the chair of the institution in February and quickly thereafter fired and replaced its board and leadership."
"Every day, she receives messages of protest from formerly loyal members of the audience, she says. They say things like: I'm never setting foot in there until the orange menace is gone.' Or: Don't you know history? Don't you know what Hitler did? I refuse to give you a penny,' she said. People send me back their the season brochure shredded in an envelope and say: Never, never, will I return while he's in power.'"
"Zambello also cited the collapse in box office revenue and shattered donor confidence. Ticket sales were about 40% unsold compared with before Trump declared himself chair, said Zambello. Many people have decided to boycott the center."
The Washington National Opera is moving performances out of the John F. Kennedy Center, ending a residency that began in 1971. The move follows Donald Trump declaring himself chair of the center, then firing and replacing its board and leadership. The takeover coincided with a collapse in box office revenue and shattered donor confidence. Ticket sales dropped to about 40% unsold compared with the period before the takeover. Many former patrons have boycotted the center and sent protesting messages and shredded season brochures, citing strong objections to the center's new leadership.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]