The Kennedy Center is not Hollywood. Does its leadership understand that?

The Kennedy Center is not Hollywood. Does its leadership understand that?

Does good art need to be popular art to be worthwhile art? Vincent van Gogh’s sole sold painting suggests not. Emily Dickinson published fewer than a dozen poems while she was alive. Franz Schubert’s short life was far more defined by the crush of poverty than the embrace of success. And what do we mean by popular? Verdi declared “La Traviata” a failure after its first performance in 1853. Bizet’s “Carmen” got raked in the reviews when it premie…