After more than five decades at the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera plans to leave the institution, marking one of the most consequential departures yet.

He helped build the ad agency BBDO International into a powerhouse before channeling his passion for opera into managing the Met and revitalizing Lincoln Center.

Semyon Bychkov will succeed Gustavo Dudamel as music director of the Paris Opera starting in August 2028, the company’s general director Alexander Neef said Tuesday. The 73-year-old Bychkov agreed to a four-year contract and will conduct two operas and six symphonic concerts per season, Neef said.

Opera flourishes: in spite of all the financial cutbacks, the UK’s opera companies are managing to create new work and stimulating productions for all tastes, in a unique mix of music, drama, dance, and staging.

Semyon Bychkov will be the musical director for a period when the opera’s performance spaces are under renovation. It’s a chance to add symphonic seasons, like at La Scala.

The event precedes Detroit Opera’s March 2026 staging of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” an opera adaptation by Poul Ruders and Paul Bentley.

Richard Eyre’s acclaimed production of the heart-rending La traviata makes an impressive return to Covent Garden

Beth Morrison has shepherded dozens of new works into existence over the past 20 years. And her footprint continues to grow.