Philip Glass withdraws symphony from the Kennedy Center
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Live Klassisk1 min read|29. January 2026
The composer Philip Glass has chosen to withdraw his new symphony, dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, from its world premiere at the Kennedy Center later this year. In a letter to the board, Glass explains that he believes the institution's current values conflict with the message of the work. He therefore does not want the world premiere of his Symphony No. 15 to take place there under current leadership.
The symphony was originally planned to be performed in June, as a commissioned work in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra. The decision comes after several cancellations at the centre, including one from Renée Fleming in the wake of the board's decision to change the institution's name to honour President Donald Trump. The official name is now The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.