Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ Debuts at Tanglewood

On July 5, 2026, the Boston Symphony Orchestra performed Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 15 ‘Lincoln’ at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts. Conducted by Karen Kamensek, the performance featured baritone Zachary James portraying Abraham Lincoln.

Initially, it seemed fitting for the symphony to premiere at the Kennedy Center during the United States’ 250th anniversary year. The work honors Lincoln, incorporating his own words throughout, and Glass, a celebrated composer, received the National Medal of Arts in 2015. However, due to recent political changes at the Kennedy Center, Glass withdrew the premiere. He explained that the current leadership conflicted with the symphony’s message.

Lincoln has been a recurring figure in Glass’ body of work. He appears in the stage production The Civil Wars and in the opera Appomattox. An animatronic Lincoln, similar to the one featured at Walt Disney World, even makes an appearance in Glass’ The Perfect American, where Disney duets with a machine version of Lincoln.

Glass’ new piece allows Lincoln to speak for himself, highlighting the vision and foresight in Lincoln’s speeches. Kamensek, who has a long history with Glass’ music, emphasized the contemporary relevance of Lincoln’s words.

In addition to Glass’ symphony, the concert included a suite of John Williams’ music for Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln and Aaron Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, narrated by actor Alec Baldwin.

Zachary James, tasked with portraying Lincoln, faced unique challenges. He combined singing and spoken parts in his role, which required emotional engagement without compromising vocal performance.

The symphony concludes unusually with quiet, sustained chords. Kamensek described them as four columns of sound, representing the fundamental pillars of American society. During rehearsal, she instructed musicians to focus these sounds towards each other, encouraging the audience to interpret their significance.

Glass reflected that Lincoln’s ability to unite the country during its division was an apt subject for America’s 250th anniversary. This resonant piece offered a poignant message, underscoring the enduring impact of Lincoln’s legacy.

An audio recording of the concert is available courtesy of BSO and GBH Music.