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A Lincoln Portrait Tickets

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A Lincoln Portrait Tour Dates & Tickets

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Inside the performance

Sound, stage & company

Onstage company

Documented collaborators

Discover the enduring American classic A Lincoln Portrait, a work by Aaron Copland that blends narrative excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s speeches with vibrant orchestral color. Since its 1942 premiere, this piece has become a staple of concert programs worldwide, performed with renowned narrators and orchestras alike. On this performer page, you’ll find a detailed biography, discography highlights, and a look at upcoming tour dates featuring performances of A Lincoln Portrait across the United States. We’ve gathered context from Copland’s career and provide practical details to help you secure your seats for live performances in your city.

Onstage company

Documented collaborators

Copland’s clear, American voice—paired with dramatic brass climaxes and lyrical passages—made A Lincoln Portrait a landmark in 20th-century classical music. Though Copland has no personal social media, organizations linked to his legacy offer official channels with news and resources. When you attend a performance, you’ll hear a narrative voice weave through orchestral textures, bringing to life Lincoln’s words from speeches and letters, including the Gettysburg Address. Browse upcoming concerts, learn about the performers, and secure your seats with confidence as you explore venues from coast to coast.

The essentials

Quick Facts About A Lincoln Portrait

  • Composer: Aaron Copland; work titled A Lincoln Portrait (often referred to as Lincoln Portrait) for narrator and orchestra, completed in 1942.
  • Text source: Narration uses excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s speeches and letters, including the Gettysburg Address.
  • Commission and premiere: Commissioned by Andre Kostelanetz for the New York Philharmonic; première in 1942 (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra with William Adams as narrator).
  • Notable narrators: Marian Anderson, Walter Cronkite, Carl Sandburg, James Earl Jones, Maya Angelou, among others.
  • Musical style: Characteristic Copland voice—accessible, American folkloric elements, dramatic brass climaxes, and a mix of lyrical and energetic textures.
  • Major awards/achievements related to Copland: Pulitzer Prize for Appalachian Spring (1944); Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Heiress (1950); Presidential Medal of Freedom (1964); National Medal of Arts (1986); Congressional Gold Medal (1987); Kennedy Center Honors (1979).

Copland’s clear, American voice—paired with dramatic brass climaxes and lyrical passages—made A Lincoln Portrait a landmark in 20th-century classical music. Though Copland has no personal social media, organizations linked to his legacy offer official channels with news and resources. When you attend a performance, you’ll hear a narrative voice weave through orchestral textures, bringing to life Lincoln’s words from speeches and letters, including the Gettysburg Address. Browse upcoming concerts, learn about the performers, and secure your seats with confidence as you explore venues from coast to coast.

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