Philip Glass Premieres 13th Symphony at Tanglewood as Kennedy Center Scraps Debut

Q: Why was a symphony honoring Lincoln pulled from the Kennedy Center, and what does its new premiere signal for its future?

Philip Glass pulled his Lincoln symphony from the Kennedy Center because he said the institution’s current leadership and values conflicted with the work’s message. Glass had originally planned Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln,” for a June debut with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington. In January, he withdrew it, saying the center’s direction was “in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony.” The work itself is built from Lincoln’s own words, including the Lyceum Speech and Farewell Address, and centers on themes such as democratic fragility, national unity and constitutional responsibility. Its premiere at Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra signals that the piece has not been sidelined but repositioned at a major and sympathetic musical institution. The July 5 world premiere, conducted by Karen Kamensek with baritone Zachary James, gave the symphony a high-profile launch in one of the country’s most prominent classical settings. That move also points to a strong future for the work. “Lincoln” is part of the broader celebration leading up to Glass’s 90th birthday in 2027, and additional performances are already planned in the United States and abroad through next year. In practical terms, the Tanglewood premiere suggests the symphony is likely to have a substantial life beyond its initial controversy, with major orchestras treating it as an important new Glass work rather than a canceled project.

3 articles · Updated · NPR · Jul 6

Tanglewood hosted the premiere of Philip Glass’s new Lincoln symphony after its planned Kennedy Center debut was canceled.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra stepped in to perform the work, giving Glass’s Abraham Lincoln homage a new stage instead of the Washington venue originally set for the launch.
The shift turns the premiere into both a musical debut and a venue change story, with Tanglewood replacing one of the nation’s highest-profile cultural institutions.