In partnership with Japan Society, this year’s presentation highlights the two latest projects of Hiroaki Umeda, one of the leading figures of the Japanese avant-garde scene.

Celebrate the cultural ties between the United States and Japan during America’s 250th anniversary with Japan in Bloom, featuring events including a free mini expo with cultural and informational booths from leading Japanese organizations, companies, and cultural groups.

Oni Kenbai is a Buddhist performing art, originally called Nenbutsu Kenbai. Dancers chant Buddhist prayers while performing to pray for abundant harvests and protection from illness.

The Blue Star of Life, the piece was donated by the Japanese artist Maestro Shirakata Yasuhiko and presented at a ceremony on May 29, 2015, in honor of President John F. Kennedy’s birthday and to commemorate the longstanding relationship between the Center and the people of Japan. The artwork remains on site and is currently displayed on the lower level of the Terrace Theater.

Step into a world of passion, tragedy, and deception with Puccini’s Il trittico, a trio of one-act operas led by world-renowned opera conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Suor Angelica plunges into the depths of sacrifice behind convent walls. Il tabarro unveils a shadowy tale of love and betrayal along the Seine. Gianni Schicchi turns deception into delight in a sharp-witted comedy of intrigue. Three stories, three distinct worlds—one unforgettable evening of Opera in Concert.

For the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Kennedy Center exhibits a collaborative, large-scale visual art installation created by the Ladd brothers and participants from across the country.

New York City Ballet’s powerhouse dancers bring two exciting mixed repertory programs: a celebration of Maria Tallchief and a showcase of works by Ulysses Dove, Pam Tanowitz, Alexei Ratmansky, and Justin Peck.

Michelle Cann, a champion of American composers and “pianist of sterling artistry” (Gramophone), returns to perform a world premiere by Valerie Coleman—named one of the “Top 35 Women Composers” by The Washington Post. Conductor Kellen Gray frames the evening with works reflecting the breadth of our nation’s story: Dvořák’s American Suite, inspired by his time in the U.S., and the Catfish Row suite from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.