Philip Glass Withdraws Lincoln Symphony From Kennedy Center Over Leadership Dispute
Composer Philip Glass has withdrawn his Symphony No. 15 'Lincoln' from a Kennedy Center premiere, saying the center's current leadership and values conflict with the work's message about Abraham Lincoln; the Kennedy Center defended its apolitical stance and noted no performances are canceled. The move comes amid a wave of artist cancellations tied to leadership changes at the venue, with the world premiere of the piece previously scheduled for June.