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National Opera Hands Over Operations Amid Budget Woes

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The Kennedy Center will take over most of the operations of the Washington National Opera. The move is being made due to the music company's financial troubles.

The affiliation announced Thursday calls for the Washington National Opera to remain a separate nonprofit with its own board of trustees, but the Kennedy Center will take over its business, fundraising and marketing functions. Artistic programs will be developed jointly.

The new arrangement begins July 1 and is expected to ensure the opera's survival amid years of budget problems.

The Washington National Opera has an operating budget of $27 million and it has about $12 million in debt.

Placido Domingo, who has served as the opera's general director since 2003, previously announced he will leave this year.

Domingo said in a statement that he supports the new arrangement.

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