{"id":2554248,"date":"2026-01-27T14:07:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T19:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/composer-philip-glass-cancels-kennedy-center-performance-of-lincoln\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T14:09:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T19:09:22","slug":"composer-philip-glass-cancels-kennedy-center-performance-of-lincoln","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/composer-philip-glass-cancels-kennedy-center-performance-of-lincoln\/","title":{"rendered":"Composer Philip Glass cancels Kennedy Center performance of &#8216;Lincoln&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcomposer-philip-glass-cancels-kennedy-center-performance-of-lincoln%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2554248&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Philip Glass has withdrawn the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/review-space-jam-a-new-legacy\/\" title=\"Review: \u2018Space Jam: A New Legacy\u2019\">world premiere<\/a> of his new work, Symphony No. 15, titled &#8220;Lincoln,&#8221; from the Kennedy Center, saying the institution\u2019s current leadership is in \u201cdirect conflict\u201d with the symphony\u2019s message of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >unity adn democratic values<\/a>. Co-commissioned by the National Symphony orchestra and the Kennedy Center and scheduled for June 12\u201313,the piece draws on Abraham Lincoln\u2019s writings and speeches.Glass framed the decision as principled rather than partisan.His pullout is part of a wider wave of artists distancing themselves from the Kennedy Center after its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/enough-is-enough-san-francisco-sues-its-own-school-district-over-re-opening-plan\/\" title=\"\u2018Enough Is Enough\u2019: San Francisco Sues Its Own School District Over Re-Opening Plan\">board voted<\/a> to rename the institution the Donald J.Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts and after Trump assumed control of the board. The Kennedy Center criticized politically motivated boycotts, while other prominent performers and organizations, including Renee Fleming, Bela Fleck, and the Washington National opera, have also severed ties or canceled appearances amid the controversy.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Composer cancels Kennedy Center performance of &lsquo;Lincoln&rsquo; symphony over &lsquo;direct conflict&rsquo; of values<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2485940\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Renowned American composer Philip Glass has abruptly pulled the scheduled premiere of his newest work from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kennedy-center\/\">Kennedy Center<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Glass announced on Tuesday he pulled the world premiere of his newest work, &ldquo;Lincoln,&rdquo; because of an irreconcilable clash between his artistic message and the direction of the institution&rsquo;s leadership.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4435396\/biden-calls-for-full-fair-investigations-into-renee-good-alex-pretti-senseless-deaths\/\">Biden calls for &#8216;full, fair&#8217; investigations into Renee Good and Alex Pretti&#8217;s &#8216;senseless&#8217; deaths<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4040585\/where-house-senate-retirements-stand-2026\/\">Here&#8217;s where House and Senate retirements stand in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4434079\/dhs-grapples-with-public-relations-nightmare-alex-pretti-shooting-minneapolis\/\">DHS grapples with PR nightmare after Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Glass <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/entertainment\/music\/2026\/01\/27\/philip-glass-kennedy-center-lincoln-premiere\/\">said<\/a>. &ldquo;Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Glass framed his withdrawal as a matter of principle, not partisanship.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The piece, co-commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center, was slated for performances on June 12 and 13 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The symphony draws on writing and speeches from Abraham Lincoln, including his 1838 Lyceum Address, as musical reflections on unity and democratic ideals.<\/p>\n<p>Glass, 88, has long been celebrated and received a Kennedy Center Honors award in 2018.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The cancellation is one of many high-profile defections, as artists distance themselves from the Kennedy Center following <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Donald-Trump\/\">President Donald Trump&rsquo;s <\/a>takeover and renaming to the Trump-Kennedy Center, where he assumed control of the board of trustees and installed himself as chairman.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, the Kennedy Center criticized artists boycotting for political reasons.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision,&rdquo; Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations, said in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;We have not canceled a single show. Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel but the public wants artists to perform and create&mdash;not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Last December, the board voted to rename the institution the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Nonvoting members of the board rebuked the decision, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), an ex-officio board member.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a disgrace,&rdquo; Jeffries said at the time. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an embarrassment.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4413631\/washington-national-opera-leaving-trump-kennedy-center\/\">Washington National Opera<\/a> ended its long-term partnership after more than 50 years at the venue, though it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: &#039;Pipeline&#039; to Obama Admin Seen as &#039;Currency&#039;\">didn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t cite the renaming as the reason.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4435334\/eleanor-holmes-norton-retirement-statement\/\"><strong>ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON SAYS IT&rsquo;S TIME TO &lsquo;LIFT UP&rsquo; NEXT GENERATION IN RETIREMENT STATEMENT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The WNO said the new business model, which requires productions be fully funded in advance, and low ticket sales were the reason for its exit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Prominent artists such as Renee Fleming and banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck have cited similar concerns when pulling scheduled appearances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Philip Glass cancels Lincoln premiere at Kennedy Center<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2554249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25353745688678.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[41928,37544,50057,72031,72030],"class_list":["post-2554248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-classical-music","tag-concert-cancellation","tag-kennedy-center","tag-lincoln-opera","tag-philip-glass"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25353745688678.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2554248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2554248"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2554248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2554252,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2554248\/revisions\/2554252"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2554249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2554248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2554248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2554248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}