Philip Glass, a famous composer, unexpectedly called off the first performance of his Symphony No. 15, titled “Lincoln,” which was scheduled for June at the Kennedy Center. He explained that the symphony’s message doesn’t fit with the direction the Kennedy Center is taking under the Trump administration.
Philip Glass has withdrawn the premiere of his Symphony No. 15 from the Kennedy Center, explaining that the Center’s current direction clashes with the symphony’s tribute to Abraham Lincoln. In a letter to the Kennedy Center board, which was shared with The Times, Glass stated he felt compelled to take this action under the current leadership.
The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Since taking over as board chair last year – after dismissing the previous board and appointing former ambassador Richard Grenell as president – Donald Trump has pushed for a strongly conservative direction for the arts. This has caused significant disruption at the country’s leading performing arts center, leading to numerous cancellations by well-known artists.
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The National Symphony Orchestra was surprised to learn that Philip Glass had cancelled his appearance. They had commissioned the symphony in 2022 to celebrate the Kennedy Center’s 50th anniversary, but Glass delivered it late. The performance with the NSO was planned for June 12th and 13th.
I was really surprised to hear about Philip Glass’s decision, just like everyone else, it seems. Our orchestra’s executive director, Jean Davidson, actually let us know they were also caught off guard when they found out through the press.
This news follows a wave of prominent event cancellations after the center’s board decided last month to rename the venue the Trump-Kennedy Center. They also quickly placed President Trump’s name above John F. Kennedy’s on the building’s exterior.
Several scheduled performances and events have been canceled recently. Jazz drummer Chuck Redd won’t be playing on Christmas Eve, and the jazz group The Cookers have canceled their two New Year’s Eve shows. Banjo player Béla Fleck also had to cancel concerts, and Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the music for “Wicked,” postponed a gala he was planning for May 15th.
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The Washington National Opera announced earlier this month that it will be leaving its long-time home, a venue it’s occupied since 1971. However, leaders at the Kennedy Center, including Grenell, responded by stating that the opera’s board actually requested the move.
Grenell posted on social media that despite millions of dollars in funding, the Washington Opera was still deeply in debt and the situation was deteriorating.
The center recently announced that soprano Renée Fleming had to cancel her two upcoming performances. While they said it was due to a scheduling conflict, many people wondered if there was more to the cancellation, especially since the center had experienced other artist departures and reports of declining ticket sales.
With everything changing lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s next for the National Symphony Orchestra. Along with the Washington National Opera, which we just said goodbye to, the NSO has always been one of the main reasons the Kennedy Center is such a vibrant arts hub, and I’m hoping it continues to thrive.
Entertainment & Arts
I was shocked to hear the news! The Kennedy Center’s board just made a unanimous decision to rename the iconic performing arts complex – it’s now officially the Trump Kennedy Center. It’s a pretty big change for such a well-known landmark, and honestly, I’m still processing it.
According to Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi, the NSO isn’t pulling out of the venue.
We have a great relationship with Maestro Gianandrea Noseda, especially as he begins his tenth season leading the National Symphony Orchestra,” Daravi shared in an email. She also highlighted the recent Gala, which was a huge success, launching the new season and raising a record-breaking $3.45 million for the NSO.
On Monday, Trump used a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, to highlight his efforts to improve the financial situation of the Kennedy Center. He claimed the venue was deeply in debt for years before he took over, and that he stepped in to rescue it and make it better than ever.
The center’s schedule is becoming increasingly rigid and difficult to fill as prominent figures withdraw. The National Symphony Orchestra is helping to fill the gaps as the organization navigates constant changes.
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2026-01-27 23:01