Philip Glass withdraws 'Lincoln' symphony premiere from Kennedy Center

"After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership."

"The Kennedy Center has been in relative turmoil since Trump fired the organization's president Deborah F. Rutter, installed Ric Grenell as new president, and made himself Chairman of the Board of the arts institution. Ben Folds, who had been the Orchestra's artistic advisor, quit as did many other staffers, and many artists who had been scheduled to play the Kennedy Center canceled their shows."

""We are going to make this work," Joan Bialek, the Orchestra's chair, said. "I was born in Washington, grew up with the Kennedy Center, grew up in the N.S.O., and I can't let it disappear. We will make it through this...Our biggest challenge now is to try to get more people back into the concert hall. We're working hard on that.""

The National Symphony Orchestra commissioned Philip Glass in 2000 to compose Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln." The premiere was scheduled for the Kennedy Center's 50th Anniversary in 2022 but was delayed to June 2026 after the work was not completed in time. Philip Glass withdrew the symphony, stating that the Kennedy Center's values under current leadership conflict with the symphony's message. The Kennedy Center experienced leadership upheaval after Deborah F. Rutter was fired, Ric Grenell was installed, and the institution's board leadership changed, prompting resignations and artist cancellations. The National Symphony Orchestra announced it will remain at the Kennedy Center and is working to rebuild audience attendance.

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