Above is a typically spurious tweet put out by the nominal leader of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The center’s own account chirps in tandem: “The Vienna Philharmonic has added a stop in Washington to its American tour, March 4, 2026, at the Kennedy Center!” This date has, in fact, been listed on the Philharmonic website since the summer and was planned well before Trump took power. On the Kennedy Center website, the concert is described thus: “Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra opens the concert—its iconic rising horns ushering in the dawn of a new world. Then, Sibelius’ majestic Symphony No. 2 brings us lush, arching melodies on the verge of chaos.” Also sprach begins with rising trumpets, not horns. “Verge of chaos” is apt enough, though.
Update: I inquired with the Vienna Philharmonic and received the following statement, which I’ve translated from the German: “With regard to reports about our concert planned for March 2026 in Washington DC, the Vienna Philharmonic would like to point out that its chairperson, Professor Daniel Froschauer, already announced this event—after several years’ planning—at the beginning of August 2025, as part of his preview press conference for the 2025-26 season. The concert takes place in the context of a USA tour that will bring the orchestra to Boston and New York as well as to the American capital, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, and it represents Austria’s musical greeting to all people who love music.”