Kennedy Center Responds To Philip Glass Symphony Withdrawal By Blaming “Leftist Activists” – Update
UPDATE, with Kennedy Center response: Composer and pianist Philip Glass is the latest artist to sever ties with the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. over the institution’s take-over by President Donald Trump.
Glass’ new symphony titled “Lincoln,” or Symphony No. 15, was set to premiere at the embattled arts institution on June 12-13. Today, Glass, whose minimalist, avant garde approach was among the most widely influential classical compositions of the 20th Century, posted an Instagram message today saying that the values of the renamed (at least informally) Trump Kennedy Center are no longer a match for an artistic work named after Abraham Lincoln.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass wrote. “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.”
Center officials responded in two statements to Glass’ decision to withdraw. Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations at the Trump Kennedy Center, said, “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. 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, Executive Director of the National Symphony Orchestra, said, “We have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press.”
The composer and pianist is just the latest artist to withdraw from the Kennedy Center schedules. Renee Fleming, Issa Rae, Stephen Schwartz, The Washington National Opera, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton, Bela Fleck, jazz ensemble The Cookers, Billy Hart, Doug Varone and Dancers, Chuck Redd and singer Kristy Lee also have, in recent weeks, abandoned their shows at and connections with the arts venue.
The 88-year-old Glass has a significant history with the D.C. organiztion having received a Kennedy Center Honors award in 2018.
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Among many musical works created by Glass are symphonies, film scores (Martin Scorsese’s Kundun (1997), Stephen Daldry’s The Hours (2002), Richard Eyre’s Notes on a Scandal (2006), Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), Hamburger Hill (1987), The Thin Blue Line (1988), Candyman (1992), The Truman Show (1998), and The Illusionist (2006).
His operas include the masterpiece Einstein on the Beach (1976), Satyagraha (1980), Akhnaten (1983), The Voyage (1992), and The Perfect American (2013). For Broadway he has composed for The Elephant Man (2002), The Crucible (2016), and King Lear (2019).
