Around the Music Festival

The Boston Symphony Orchestra has announced that it will give the world premiere of Philip Glass’s new Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln.” That was originally commissioned jointly by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and its resident orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. However, Glass objected to the Kennedy Center being renamed the Trump Kennedy Center and refused to give the premiere.

The work consists of eight movements. The premiere will take place on July 5th at the Tanglewood Music Festival, a summer music festival hosted by the orchestra. The conductor will be Karen Kamensek, who has conducted many of Glass’s works, and the performer will be baritone Zachary James.

The concert will also feature excerpts from Copland’s 1942 version of “Portrait of Lincoln” and music written by John Williams for Steven Spielberg’s 2012 film “Lincoln.”

Glass, an 89-year-old born in Baltimore, USA, is a leading figure in “minimalist music,” which minimizes sonic movement and repeats patterned musical motifs. He said, “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.”

Following the name change at the end of last year, the Centre has seen a series of artists cancel performances, resulting in attendance figures of only about 50% of the usual level. Furthermore, in early February, President Trump made a sudden announcement that the Centre would be closed from July 4th for two years of renovations.

Not only the Washington National Opera, whose exclusive contract was terminated, but also the National Symphony Orchestra and others are being forced to search for new venues, causing continued turmoil.

PHOTO；Deutsche Grammophon