Philip Glass Pulls His Symphony Out of the Kennedy Center
Philip Glass withdrew his latest symphony from The Kennedy Center this week. The news comes on the heels of other artists leaving the institution after the Donald Trump administration’s occupation of the building.
Rhiannon Giddens, Issa Rae, Bela Fleck, and Stephen Schwartz have all left The Kennedy Center behind as well. Hamilton notably said thanks but no thanks to the institution after the building put President Trump’s name up on it alongside President Kennedy’s.
June was the scheduled premiere for the new Philip Glass symphony, titled “Symphony No. 15 Lincoln.” Glass’s representation issued a statement explaining the decision for the people out there who had been planning to attend. As it was, the building was a bustling source of different performances in the Washington D.C. area. Now, more and more of the musicians, artists, and performers who made it what it was are passing on the chance at money to follow their beliefs.
“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” Glass’ statement reads. “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 rejects The Kennedy Center
Current vice president of public relations for The Kennedy Center, Roma Daravi, responded in a statement as well. The institution argues, “We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision.” The first sentence of that statement could probably power the old thinkpiece factories that used to prop-up the Internet for years. Now, with a country that makes the right to disagree with people the center of its founding document, no place for disagreement doesn’t really fly. People are going to take issue with decisions coming from an administration of any kind.
Despite the pushback and financial future of the center in question if all this fervor continues, the White House remains steadfast in its position. Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary for Trump’s White House told the Wall Street Journal exactly how they feel about this performing arts center in general.
“The Kennedy Center learned the hard way that if you go woke, you will go broke,” she began. “President Trump and the members of his newly-appointed board are devoted to rebuilding the Kennedy Center into a thriving and highly respected institution where all Americans, and visitors from around the world, can enjoy the arts with respect to America’s great history and traditions.”
(featured image: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Tibet House US)
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