WASHINGTON — Composer Philip Glass announced Tuesday that he is withdrawing his symphony from the Kennedy Center, pointing to the arts center’s values and leadership.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass announced in a statement posted to X.
“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,” he continued. “Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi said in a statement, “We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision.”
“We have not cancelled a single show,” Daravi continued. “Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel but the public wants artists to perform and create — not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division.”
Jean Davidson, the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, said in a statement that “we have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press.”
Glass is the latest in a series of musicians to cancel concerts in the wake of President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center board, which voted last month to include Trump’s name in the venue. Artists have pointed to the center’s politics or the name change in explaining why they would cancel performances at the longtime Washington fixture of the performing arts.
Other groups, such as the Washington National Opera, decided to leave the Kennedy Center, but the opera company cited finances, rather than politics, in announcing its decision. Days ago, singer Renée Fleming withdrew from two shows in May, though the Kennedy Center cited “a scheduling conflict” for the cancellations.
Glass has composed a slew of operas, symphonies and concertos. The Kennedy Center had advertised the “world premiere” of his symphony “Lincoln,” which was set to take place in June.
