Virginia Symphony Orchestra Presents Philip Glass’s Newest Symphony in a Two-Concert Event.
Portsmouth Native Davóne Tines joins the VSO to perform the Lincoln Symphony.
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [September 14, 2026] Bass-baritone and GRAMMY award nominee Davóne Tines will perform the Virginia Premiere of Philip Glass’s newest symphony, No. 15 “Lincoln” with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra later this month on a program reflecting on echoes and icons, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & Philip Glass’s Lincoln Symphony. These performances will be recorded and produced for release in celebration of Glass’s upcoming 90th birthday in January 2027.
Not a stranger to Glass’s works, Tines recently performed Glass’s Satyagraha with the Paris Opera, earlier this year. “I’ve gotten to know his works intimately over the past two years preparing to perform his opera Satyagraha. He has such a beautiful, unique compositional voice. He uses the ideas of repetition not as a thing to trap oneself, but for one to go into a deeper mode of mediation by understanding all the possible nuances within revisiting the simple”, says Tines.
Inspired by President Lincoln’s 1838 “Lyceum Address” entitled “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions”, the work made national headlines earlier this year after being pulled from its original world premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The piece was premiered by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, at Tanglewood, on July 5, 2026.
In collaboration with Teens with a Purpose, Tines, a 2019 Time Magazine Next Generation Leader, will host a master class entitled: Who Cares About Abraham Lincoln Anyway?: Creative Process Discussion On How Performers Care. The class combines opera, spoken word, and artistic dialogue inspired by Philip Glass’s Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln”. Tines will share his knowledge and experience with the audience and students performing. The class is free and open to the public at The Slover on September 26th at 1:30PM.
VSO President & CEO Shannon Kelly said, “We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Davóne to this project. He has been called a true change-maker—an artist who is expanding and redefining what it means to be a classical singer. Bringing his voice to this music, at this moment, is both rare and profoundly meaningful for our community.”
The program will also feature the return of acclaimed violinist Simone Porter on Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Porter has been recognized as an emerging artist of impassioned energy, interpretive integrity, and vibrant communication. She has debuted with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Seattle and Pittsburgh Symphonies. She previously performed Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy with the VSO during their Opening Weekend in 2022.
While in Hampton Roads, Porter will also host a master class at Old Dominion University on September 25th at 11AM. Free and open to the public, advanced student violinists from ODU will take turns performing for the audience and Porter.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & Philip Glass’s Lincoln Symphony will be presented September 25, 2026, at 7:30PM at CNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts (1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News, VA 23606) and September 27, 2026, at 2:30PM at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts (201 Market St Unit 204, Virginia Beach, VA 23462). Learn more at https://virginiasymphony.org/vivaldi-glass/
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational, and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Innovation and excellence are at the heart of the VSO’s narrative. The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and its commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, programming, and leadership. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Fellowship Program for up to 4 early-career, underrepresented orchestral musicians work to advance the goal of increased diversity of orchestral musicians nationwide. This initiative is a continuation of the VSO’s commitment to creating extraordinary musical experiences with and for our entire community.
Celebrating his sixth season, Music Director Eric Jacobsen, The Macon and Joan Brock Chair, continues to expand the VSO’s vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Connie and Marc Jacobson Music Director Laureate JoAnn Falletta and Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
