Opera star Renée Fleming withdraws from Kennedy Center May performances

WASHINGTON — Grammy Award-winning opera star Renée Fleming has withdrawn from performances in May at the Kennedy Center, with her withdrawal coming during a wave of cancellations at the Washington institution since its takeover by President Donald J. Trump.

A message on the Kennedy Center’s website said Ms. Fleming, who had been scheduled to appear with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in May, had to withdraw “due to a scheduling conflict.”

“Renée Fleming regrets that, due to a scheduling conflict, she must withdraw from her May 2026 concerts with the NSO,” the message on the institution’s website said. “A new soloist and repertoire will be announced at a later date, and the remainder of the program remains unchanged.”

Last year, Ms. Fleming left her role as artistic adviser-at-large at the center, citing the departures of the institution’s previous leadership.

Mr. Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and filled its board with his allies last year. In December the institution’s board voted to rename it the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, or Trump Kennedy Center for short.

Since then, many groups and artists have withdrawn from the center, citing the Republican leader’s takeover. Democrats, noting that the center’s name was established by Congress, have said Mr. Trump’s rebranding has no force of law. John F. Kennedy’s family denounced the renaming move as undermining the slain president’s legacy. — Reuters