Philip Glass has withdrawn the premiere of his new symphony from the Kennedy Center.
In a statement posted to social media on Tuesday, the legendary composer said his latest work 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 performance of Glass’ Lincoln by the National Symphony Orchestra had been scheduled to take place in June feature Grammy-winning conductor Karen Kamensek. The symphony was inspired by Lincoln’s 1838 Lyceum Address, in which the then-future US president warned about the dangers of mob violence and of those who disregard US laws and courts.
Responding to Glass’ cancelation in a statement to Consequence, Kennedy Center VP of public relations Roma Darav said, “We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision.”
“We have not cancelled a single show. Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel but the public wants artists to perform and create—not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division,” Darav added.
Glass, a Kennedy Center Honors award recipient in 2018, is the latest prominent act to severe ties with the venue following Donald Trump’s takeover. Recent months have also seen the Washington National Opera end its 55-year relationship with the Kennedy Center, while a production of Hamilton and scheduled concerts featuring Béla Fleck, Rhiannon Giddens, Stephen Schwartz, Renée Fleming, and The Cookers have all been canceled.
Consequence has reached out to the Kennedy Center representatives for comment.
