WASHINGTON, Jan 27 - American composer Philip Glass announced on Monday that he is withdrawing the world premiere of his Symphony No. 15, titled "Lincoln," from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In a statement posted on X, Glass said he reached the decision after careful reflection, concluding that the values embodied in the symphony are at odds with those now associated with the performing arts center.
Glass, who will turn 89 on January 31, wrote that 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." The work had been scheduled for performance in June.
"After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 'Lincoln' from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts," Glass wrote.
The composer is the latest prominent musician to remove planned work from the center's schedule since President Donald Trump named himself chairman and appointed allies to the institution's board last year. The Rebranding of the institution's name was approved by its board in December, when it voted to rename the facility as the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, sometimes shortened to the Trump Kennedy Center.
Since that vote, a number of performing groups and individual artists have pulled out of scheduled appearances, citing the leadership change. Earlier this month, the Washington National Opera announced plans to vacate the Kennedy Center, ending a 50-year residency.
Democratic politicians have argued that the center's name was established by Congress and that President Trump's rebranding carries no legal force. Meanwhile, members of the Kennedy family criticized the board's decision, saying the renaming undermines the legacy of the slain president.
According to reporting in the Washington Post, Symphony No. 15 was commissioned jointly by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center. The premiere, which had already been delayed, was slated to serve as the centerpiece of the center's "250 Years of Us" program, a series intended to mark 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Glass's withdrawal adds to an ongoing series of programming changes and public disputes surrounding the center following its governance shift. The full consequences for future scheduling, partnerships and public perception of the institution remain unsettled as additional artists and organizations weigh their decisions.
Summary
Composer Philip Glass has withdrawn the planned world premiere of his Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" from the Kennedy Center, saying the center's current values conflict with the symphony's message after the institution was taken over and renamed under President Donald Trump. The work had been commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center and was to headline the "250 Years of Us" program. Glass's announcement follows other high-profile withdrawals and the Washington National Opera's decision to leave the center after a 50-year residency.