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National Symphony Orchestra
A premier U.S. orchestra, the NSO performs approximately 150 concerts each year of classical and popular music, new works, and special events.
Washington National Opera
One of the leading opera companies in the United States, WNO focuses on bold productions of classic operas, fascinating contemporary perspectives, and the best in American artistry.
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Featured Events
Music and the Mind: The Concert—featuring Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Jason Moran, Renée Fleming, and More (part of Sound Health)
Friday, September 7, 2018 8:00 PM TicketsNSO Pops: Star Wars: A New Hope (film with live orchestra)
Wednesday, September 12, 2018 - Saturday, September 15, 2018 TicketsNational Symphony Orchestra: Season Opening Gala Concert
Saturday, September 22, 2018 7:00 PM TicketsGet Exclusive Events
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New & Noteworthy
2018 Kennedy Center Honorees Announced
The 41st annual Kennedy Center Honors will be presented to singer and actress Cher, composer and pianist Philip Glass, Country music entertainer Reba McEntire, and jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter. Additionally this year, the co-creators of Hamilton—writer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Thomas Kail, choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler, and music director Alex Lacamoire—will receive a unique Kennedy Center Honors as trailblazing creators of a transformative work that defies category. The 2018 Honorees will be saluted by today's leading performers in a star-studded celebration on the Opera House stage, Sun., Dec. 2. The Honors Gala will be broadcast nationwide on CBS on Wed., Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. ET.
2018 Kennedy Center Honorees Announced: Learn MoreSound Health: Music and the Mind
The Kennedy Center and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), in association with the National Endowment for the Arts, will present the second Sound Health: Music and the Mind event on Sep. 7 and 8. This year's theme, Shaping Our Children’s Lives Through Music Engagement, examines the effects of music and rhythm on brain development. Sep. 7, artists Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Jason Moran, Renée Fleming, Madison McFerrin, Chloe and Maud Arnold, Matthew Whitaker, and other special guests join top neuroscientists Drs. John Iversen, Nina Kraus, Charles Limb, and Laurel Trainor, along with NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins for a concert hosted by CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta. It will be an unforgettable journey of discovery, diving into how music can excite our neurons, shape our brains, and harness our creativity, as well as create community and foster social interaction. Events on Sep. 8 include activities, workshops, and discussions with artists, educators, and neuroscientists.
Sound Health: Music and the Mind: Learn MoreOpera in the Outfield® Returns on Sep. 29
Washington National Opera celebrates the 11th season of free opera broadcasts at Opera in the Outfield®, Presenting Sponsor Mars, Incorporated, on Sat., Sep. 29 at Nationals Park. Hosted by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, this family community event features an outdoor broadcast of The Barber of Seville, a rapid-fire romp known to audiences for its instantly recognizable overture. The hilarious WNO production stars audience favorite Isabel Leonard, dashing American tenor Taylor Stayton in his WNO debut, and thrilling Moldovan baritone Andrey Zhilikhovsky in his U.S. debut. Gates open at 5 p.m. for pre-show family activities and the broadcast begins at 7 p.m. More information is available at OperaintheOutfield.org
Opera in the Outfield® Returns on Sep. 29: Learn MoreKennedy Center News Now Online
Kennedy Center News is now available to read online! The September-October issue features contemporary dance from Brazil's Companhia de Dança Deborah Colker, San Francisco Ballet with a program of new works, the return of Broadway Center Stage with Little Shop of Horrors, Washington National Opera's new production of Verdi's La traviata, National Symphony Orchestra concerts with film including Star Wars and Get Out, a sneak peek at the REACH expansion, and much more!
Kennedy Center News Now Online: Learn More