National Symphony Orchestra to cut season in half after venue closure
Musicians are splitting their schedule across six different halls in the Washington, D.C. area while fighting to keep the ensemble afloat.
By Nia Foster ·
The National Symphony Orchestra will perform roughly half the number of concerts this season compared to previous years. This drastic reduction follows the Sept. 15 closure of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the group's primary home since 1971.
The closure ended a period of instability that included falling ticket sales, public boycotts, and federal court battles over adding President Trump's name to the building. Trump assumed control of the center in early 2025 by dismissing board members and president Deborah Rutter.
The 95-year-old orchestra is now scattered across six alternative venues in the greater Washington region. Music director Gianandrea Noseda, who has led the group for nine years, described the news as a cold shower. He said his immediate reaction was to ask what the orchestra would do without a home.
The scheduling compressed the usual announcement timeline. Most symphonies reveal their seasons in early spring, but the NSO waited for budget approval from the Kennedy Center board. The schedule was released in mid-August, only six weeks before the season opened. The first concert took place 11 days after the center shut its doors.
On Sept. 26, the orchestra opened its season at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md. The program featured new works by Carlos Simon alongside pieces by Tchaikovsky and Respighi. Anne Midgette, a former classical music critic for The Washington Post, called the event bittersweet. She noted that a major orchestra in a major city should not be performing outside its traditional hall.
Financial pressures are mounting. The Washington Post reported in August that ticket revenue is expected to drop by about half. Donations are projected to fall by a quarter, partly due to cuts in the Kennedy Center's development department. The orchestra has also lost most of its former staff, including executive director Jean Davidson, who left in March citing the turmoil at the center.
Associate principal double bassist Rick Barber, a member of the NSO since 1995, said the closure stunned the musicians. He described the months following the announcement as a time of anxiety. Barber remains focused on the music, saying he does not think about political divisions when he is playing.
Noseda extended his contract through 2031 rather than seeking a new position after Rutter's firing. He called leaving a cowardly move and said a music director must serve the orchestra and community. The group will test audience loyalty as it plays in various halls across the region.
Source: Connecticut Public Television
