Philip Glass withdraws world premiere of his Lincoln symphony from Kennedy Center

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Maya YangJanuary 27, 2026 at 07:29 PM

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medium article 2 min

Philip Glass has withdrawn the world premiere of his Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The premiere was scheduled for June 12 and 13. Glass, a 2018 Kennedy Center Honors recipient, cited a conflict between the symphony's message and the center's current values under its leadership. This decision follows a leadership overhaul at the Kennedy Center initiated by Donald Trump after his second presidency began in early 2025, including renaming it the "Trump-Kennedy Center" and installing a new board. The move also comes amid cancellations from other artists protesting the administration's policies and criticism of the politicization of the arts.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Renee Nicole Good 30% Alex Pretti 30% Minneapolis 35% Sheldon Whitehouse 40% United States ×250% Abraham Lincoln 50% Symphony No 15 'Lincoln' ×260% Donald Trump ×280% John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ×685% Philip Glass ×490%

Keywords

philip glass 100% symphony withdrawal 90% kennedy center 80% donald trump 70% political influence 60% artistic protest 60% leadership overhaul 50% lincoln symphony 50% cultural politicization 40%