BSO to perform Philip Glass’ controversial ‘Lincoln’ symphony next year

The Baltimore-born composer Philip Glass is bringing “Lincoln,” his widely anticipated new composition celebrating the life of the 16th U.S. president, to Charm City for the symphony’s mid-Atlantic premiere. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will perform three concerts of the 89-year-old Glass’ newest work under the baton of music director Jonathon Heyward, the organization announced Tuesday in its 2026-27 season announcement. Two concerts will be performed June 4 and June 6, 2027 at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, while the June 5, 2027 concert will take place at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda. Glass made headlines last month when he abruptly canceled the widely anticipated world premiere of his 15th symphony five months before it had been scheduled to be performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in connection with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In a letter announcing his decision to pull the premiere, Glass wrote that the values of the Center under President Donald Trump’s administration are “in direct conflict” with the ideals expressed by the symphony. Symphony President Mark C. Hanson told the Sun that the BSO reached out to Glass about a month ago seeking permission to perform the composer’s newest work for a hometown audience. “Mr. Glass grew up in Baltimore and studied at the Peabody Conservatory, so it’s perfectly fitting that the BSO should be among the small group of orchestras giving the first performances of the ‘Lincoln’ symphony,” Hanson said. “This will be one of those events that people will be talking about.” The dates and location of “Lincoln’s” world premiere this summer (which will take place about a year before the Maryland concerts) have not yet been announced. Hanson said the BSO’s 2026-27 was programmed with an eye toward continuing the orchestra’s gradual audience growth and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. For the first time, ticket sales for the current season are on track to exceed total sales in 2019, he said. Next season will feature performances by such visiting superstars as the Russian-born concert pianist Evgeny Kissin and the French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, an in-depth exploration of Ludwig van Beethoven’s compositions, a celebration of the music of “Star Wars” on the franchise’s 50th anniversary, and concerts pairing classical compositions with the music of such contemporary popular superstars as singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and rapper Kendrick Lamar. Highlights of the 2026-27 season include: * The September gala celebrations opening the season will have a jazz theme this year. The six-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Samara Joy will present her interpretations of standards by Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington — and former Baltimorean Billie Holliday. Joy will perform on Sept. 25 at Strathmore and Sept. 26 at the Meyerhoff. * The BSO will participate in the international celebration of the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death with an in-depth exploration of the 18th century composer’s best-known work, Symphony No. 5, May 1-2, and New Year’s week performances of Symphony No. 9. In addition, the South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son will perform all five Beethoven piano concertos in a single week in late February 2027. * The BSO will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States with an October performance of John Adams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning choral and orchestral composition, “On the Transmigration of Souls.” * Kissin will perform a solo recital April 30, while Thibaudet will perform with the BSO May 21-23. * The popular “Fusion” concerts pioneered by conductor Steven Hackman will pair Lamar’s album, “DAMN.” with Igor Stravinski’s 1913 ballet, “Petrushka” on Feb. 6, 2027. Hackman has not yet announced which classical composer he will program alongside Swift’s songs for the Sept. 18-19 concerts. * The “Star Wars” concerts will take place May 7-9 and will feature composer John Williams’ epic themes from all the franchise movies from “A New Hope” to “Rogue One.” Hanson said that also new for next season will be two new concert series: the Coffee Series, which will present four classical concerts on four Fridays at 11 a.m., and the Symphony at Six Series, which will combine four early evening concerts with pre- and post-concert gatherings and partnerships with local restaurants. In addition, Towson Universit Links found in article: - https://www.baltimoresun.com/2026/02/16/kennedy-center-opera-maryland/ - https://www.bsomusic.org/subscribe/#new