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WASHINGTON — Composer Philip Glass announced Tuesday that he is withdrawing his symphony from the Kennedy Heart, pointing to the humanities heart’s values and leadership.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass announced in an announcement posted to X.
“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,” he persisted. “Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
Kennedy Heart spokesperson Roma Daravi mentioned in an announcement, “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,” Daravi persisted. “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.”
Jean Davidson, the manager director of the Nationwide Symphony Orchestra, mentioned in an announcement that “we have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press.”
Glass is the latest in a sequence of musicians to waste concerts within the wake of President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Heart board, which voted final month to consist of Trump’s name within the venue. Artists have confidence pointed to the center’s politics or the name change in explaining why they would waste performances on the longtime Washington fixture of the performing arts.
Diverse groups, such because the Washington Nationwide Opera, determined to walk away the Kennedy Heart, but the opera firm cited price range, as an quite various of politics, in asserting its decision. Days ago, singer Renée Fleming withdrew from two exhibits in Would perchance simply, even when the Kennedy Heart cited “a scheduling conflict” for the cancellations.
Glass has smooth a slew of operas, symphonies and concertos. The Kennedy Heart had advertised the “world premiere” of his symphony “Lincoln,” which used to be location to happen in June.
Megan Lebowitz is a politics reporter for NBC News.