Philip Glass has announced that he has withdrawn his new symphony from its debut at The Kennedy Center, for reasons that are probably obvious at this point. Other artists who have canceled performances after President Donald Trump’s takeover of the event space include Stephen Schwartz, Béla Fleck, Rhiannon Giddens, and Issa Rae, as well as a production of Hamilton.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass shared this morning in a statement. “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. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
The show was originally set to premiere in June. Check out the legendary composer’s statement below.
