Kennedy Center Bans Concert

[owlice]

All the Kennedy Center cancellations since Trump's name was added
Acclaimed banjoist Béla Fleck and "Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz are two of the most high-profile artists who have backed out of events since the center's name change.

More here: https://archive.is/DqHpW#selection-233.0-233.171

(Despite the title, the article covers just some, not all, of the cancellations.)

[arpeggio]

I wish this was a joke, but it is not.

https://slippedisc.com/2026/01/kennedy-center-puts-drummer-in-charge-of-arts/

The Kenndy Center mentions in their press release that he was experience with many genres, except classical and jazz.

[JBS]

I wish this was a joke, but it is not.

https://slippedisc.com/2026/01/kennedy-center-puts-drummer-in-charge-of-arts/

The Kennedy Center mentions in their press release that he was experience with many genres, except classical and jazz.

And it seems no experience with theatrical productions of any kind.
Relative to the Center's usual schedule, isn't that a fairly important gap?

[T. D.]

And it seems no experience with theatrical productions of any kind.
Relative to the Center's usual schedule, isn't that a fairly important gap?

Indeed, if "usual schedule" means the norm to date.
But IMO it's exceedingly obvious that said "usual schedule" is a thing of the past.
I've pretty much written off the Kennedy Center.

The new guy seems more a booking agent than a drummer. Looking at who he's worked with probably gives a good picture of where the "schedule" is headed, viz. Joe Rogan.    🤮 Although I kind of like Carlos Santana and ZZ Top in some contexts.

[relm1]

And it seems no experience with theatrical productions of any kind.
Relative to the Center's usual schedule, isn't that a fairly important gap?

Depends who your boss is.

[owlice]

Philip Glass Withdraws From Kennedy Center, as Its Symphony Vows to Play On

Six years ago, the National Symphony Orchestra commissioned the renowned composer Philip Glass to write a symphony honoring Abraham Lincoln for the 50th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2022. Glass missed that deadline, but his Symphony No. 15 was set for its world premiere by the orchestra this June.

On Tuesday, Glass informed the Kennedy Center that he did not want his symphony, based on Lincoln's 1838 Lyceum Address, performed on its stage. "Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the symphony," he wrote in a letter asking that the orchestra not play his work. A copy of the letter was shared with The New York Times.

The withdrawal of work by Glass, 88, who received a Kennedy Center Honors award in 2018, is the latest blow for the center — and particularly for the increasingly isolated National Symphony Orchestra and its music director, Gianandrea Noseda.

More here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/27/arts/music/kennedy-center-national-symphony-orchestra-gianandrea-noseda.html

[owlice]

From the Comments on the article above, from Thomas Alton of Philadelphia:

"A courageous move by Glass.  May I suggest that the premier of his new work be performed by the Minnesota Orchestra."

[owlice]

Washington Post's article on this:

Philip Glass pulls world premiere from Kennedy Center

Composer Philip Glass has joined the list of artists, musicians and performers pulling back from previously scheduled engagements at the Kennedy Center, withdrawing his anticipated Symphony No. 15: "Lincoln" from the National Symphony Orchestra, which was to perform the world premiere this coming June.

"After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 'Lincoln' from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts," Glass wrote in a statement provided to The Washington Post. "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."

Glass, who will turn 89 at the end of this month, is a celebrated and influential American composer, who was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018. Though often credited as a pioneer of 20th-century minimalism, Glass's music ranges from intimate piano études and chamber works to sprawling symphonies and ambitious, experimental operas such as "Einstein on the Beach," "Satyagraha" and "Akhnaten," about historical figures.

Symphony No. 15: "Lincoln" was co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center and the NSO, and has already been subject to several delays: It was originally scheduled to premiere in March 2022 and was later postponed to October 2022. This season, the piece was restored to the NSO's calendar as a centerpiece of the Kennedy Center's ongoing "250 Years of Us" programming.

More here: https://archive.is/9HWwx

[arpeggio]

I wish this was a joke, but it is not.

https://slippedisc.com/2026/01/kennedy-center-puts-drummer-in-charge-of-arts/

The Kenndy Center mentions in their press release that he was experience with many genres, except classical and jazz.

He did not last long:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-s-new-kennedy-center-hire-quits-after-less-than-2-weeks-on-the-job/ar-AA1VcSTL?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=697adbc2defa4e74b8fe79b3ef6d6093&ei=33

[owlice]

'Their first instinct was to loot': how Trump's acolytes are plundering the Kennedy Center

"...when the brigands took the ship, their first instinct was to loot it for their own benefit and hire their friends and put people up in fancy rooms at the Watergate [hotel] and let favoured organisations get free access and it was all part of a Maga party atmosphere."

(Surprising no one.)

More here: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jan/01/trump-kennedy-center-canceled-programs

[JBS]

The Master of Bankruptcy strikes again

https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/01/politics/kennedy-center-trump-close

[arpeggio]

The President, I dare not mention his name, has politicized the arts in the United States.

How much damage can he do before we can challenge his actions without politicizing the discussion.

[Todd]

Event planners ought to alter 2026 celebration plans and bring MMA to the Trump-Kennedy Center on July 3rd before the renovation starts.  I'm hoping things get mired down and the closure ends up lasting much longer than two years.

[maticevska]

misread 'renovation' as 'revolution' whoops.

[JBS]

misread 'renovation' as 'revolution' whoops.

Sometimes a renovation turns out to be a revolution and sometimes a revolution is merely a renovation.

[arpeggio]

Kennedy Center dropouts fleeing to Carnegie Hall:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/ren%C3%A9e-fleming-b%C3%A9la-fleck-to-perform-together-at-carnegie-hall-after-dropping-out-of-kennedy-center/ar-AA1VKDdX?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=698562ec04b249848ce344e256d28bfa&ei=29

[arpeggio]

Latest article about the split between the Washington National Opera and the Kennedy Center:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/inside-the-kennedy-center-s-scorched-earth-washington-national-opera-split/ar-AA1W88ne?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=698c9df65e8b41769141ec878f224701&ei=13

[arpeggio]

This is not related to the Kennedy Center but it is another example on how Trump's policies have affected the arts.

The ballet troupe Les Ballets Africains has had to cancel its American tour because they can not get a visa to visit America.

[arpeggio]

Interesting article about the name change:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/kennedy-center-board-members-freaked-out-at-trump-goon-s-renaming-crusade/ar-AA1W97iC?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=698db91fee164c0dae365a7e39ceedab&ei=15

[T. D.]

I regard the situation as a disaster and have written off the Kennedy Center, but that article by The Daily Beast is poor journalism.

The lead states "Kennedy Center board members freaked out at Trump goon's renaming crusade", but the text of the article reads "Several board members of the MAGA-fied Kennedy Center were against the push to rename it after Donald Trump but did not want to speak out, according to a report...Gor proposed renaming the arts center after Trump during a meeting at the home of fellow board member Andrea Wynn, the wife of casino mogul Steve Wynn, according to The Wall Street Journal.

No other board member spoke out against the idea at the meeting, but several reportedly 'expressed frustration privately' afterward, a source told the Journal..."

That doesn't constitute "freaking out" IMO. Moreover, why would Board members not speak out against the idea at the very Board meeting where the idea was floated?

The article seems to be the "author"'s gloss of something previously reported in the WSJ.

Nobody looks good here.