American composer Philip Glass has withdrawn the scheduled world premiere of his Symphony No. 15, Lincoln from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

In what amounts to a rebuke to the institution’s current management and direction, Glass said the values expressed in his musical portrait of Abraham Lincoln — were “in direct conflict” with the Kennedy Center’s new ethos, prompting him to pull the commissioning and premiere from the June calendar.

After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my
Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts. 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.

Philip Glass

Philip Glass. Portrait supplied

Glass’s announcement is the latest in a series of high-profile cancellations tied to the Center’s leadership changes, including modifications to its board and the renaming of it as the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

Glass’s action prompted...