Philip Glass Withdraws Premiere of New Symphony from Kennedy Center
In a shocking move, renowned composer Philip Glass has withdrawn the premiere of his new symphony from the Kennedy Center, citing the venue's values as being in direct conflict with the message of his music. This decision marks the latest high-profile cancellation since President Trump's team took over the center's operations and renamed it the Trump-Kennedy Center.Glass Withdraws Symphony Premiere
Philip Glass, a celebrated composer known for his iconic works such as 'Symphony No. 1' and 'Einstein on the Beach,' has announced that he will no longer premiere his new symphony at the Kennedy Center. The symphony, titled 'Lincoln,' is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln and was scheduled to debut in mid-June with the National Symphony Orchestra. Glass stated that the values of the current leadership at the Kennedy Center are in direct conflict with the message of his music.
Kennedy Center's New Leadership
The decision to withdraw the symphony premiere comes after President Trump's team took over the center's operations and renamed it the Trump-Kennedy Center. The move was met with outrage from Democratic lawmakers, who argued that the name change could not be made without legislation. Since then, a litany of artists have canceled their appearances at the center, including 'Hamilton' and actress Issa Rae.
Roma Daravi's Response
In response to Glass's decision, Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, stated that they have no place for politics in the arts. She claimed that leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel their performances and that the public wants artists to create, not cancel under pressure from political insiders.
National Symphony Orchestra's Reaction
The National Symphony Orchestra, which was set to perform Glass's symphony, expressed its admiration for the composer and stated that they were surprised by his decision. The orchestra's executive director, Jean Davidson, said that they had great respect for Glass and were looking forward to performing his music.
Philip Glass's withdrawal of his symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center marks a significant blow to the venue's efforts to rebrand itself under President Trump's leadership. As the debate over politics in the arts continues, one thing is clear: the values and messages conveyed through art are being scrutinized like never before.
