De Niro Joins Philip Glass
Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro will appear at Carnegie Hall to recite the text for a Philip Glass symphony, bridging film and classical music worlds. This high-profile collaboration adds serious star power to the performance. Meanwhile, Patti LuPone presented "Matters of the Heart" at LA Opera, demonstrating "surprising range" across a diverse setlist.
The Philip Glass symphony featuring Robert De Niro is actually his Symphony No. 15, "Lincoln," not "Itaipú." The performance is part of the 39th Annual Tibet House US Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall. Glass and Laurie Anderson are the evening's artistic directors. De Niro will recite excerpts from one of Lincoln's early major speeches, the 1838 "Lyceum Address," which warns against mob violence and its threat to democracy. Glass withdrew the symphony's premiere from the Kennedy Center in protest of leadership changes made by President Donald Trump. The star-studded benefit concert also includes performers like Elvis Costello, Maya Hawke, The B-52s' Kate Pierson, and The Philip Glass Ensemble. Proceeds from the event support Tibet House US, a non-profit cultural institution founded at the request of the Dalai Lama. Patti LuPone's "Matters of the Heart" is a solo show she has been performing for over two decades, having originated on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater in 2000. The concert explores themes of love and relationships through a diverse musical landscape. The show's setlist demonstrates LuPone's range, featuring songs from iconic musical theatre composers like Stephen Sondheim and Rodgers and Hammerstein, alongside covers of artists like The Beach Boys and Randy Newman.
