Concert at Philharmonie de Paris Interrupted by Pro-Palestine Protest
The Philharmonie de Paris concert hall descended into chaos when pro-Palestine demonstrators set off smoke bombs during a performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Police arrested four people after the concert was interrupted on three separate occasions.
Red flares and dense smoke filled the auditorium during a programme that included works by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Several audience members tackled the protesters; punches were thrown and objects were hurled before security staff removed the troublemakers. Under the baton of Israeli conductor Lahav Shani, the orchestra resumed playing and concluded to a standing ovation.
Venue Response and Calls for Sanctions
The Philharmonie said it will file a formal complaint and "strongly deplores and condemns the serious incidents that occurred on Thursday." The venue added: "Nothing can justify such actions. Whatever one’s opinions may be, it is completely unacceptable to threaten the safety of the public, staff and artists. Violence is not a matter for debate. And bringing it into a concert hall is very serious."
"On three occasions, ticket-holding spectators attempted in various ways to interrupt the concert, twice using smoke bombs. Members of the audience intervened and clashes ensued."
Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF), praised the musicians who continued despite the interruptions and called for "exemplary sanctions." Several attendees questioned security arrangements given the concert took place days before the tenth anniversary of the Nov. 13 Paris terror attacks.
Political Fallout and Broader Cultural Debate
The performance had been controversial in the run-up to the event. CGT Spectacle, a union representing entertainment-sector workers, had urged the orchestra to condemn the Israeli government's actions in Gaza at the start of the concert, arguing the Philharmonie "cannot host the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra without reminding the public of the extremely serious accusations weighing on the leaders of that country." The union said hosting the concert risked contributing to the "normalisation" of Israel in international cultural settings.
Critics also pointed to perceived inconsistencies in cultural programming after the Philharmonie removed Russian conductor Valery Gergiev from its programme at the start of the war in Ukraine. Some commentators objected to the orchestra performing the Israeli national anthem at the end, saying it further politicised the evening.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati defended the event, stating: "Nothing justifies a call to boycott this moment of culture, sharing and communion. Freedom of creation and programming is a value of our Republic. There is no excuse for anti-Semitism!" The Philharmonie reiterated that it does not require visiting artists to take positions on ongoing conflicts and that artists "cannot be held responsible for the actions of their government by simple association."
Related Incidents and Wider Context
This is not the first time conductor Lahav Shani has faced disruptions: in September he was removed from the Ghent Festival programme, an action he attributed to political pressure. German officials condemned anti-Semitic undertones at the time.
Tensions over performances by Israeli artists have risen in France since the Gaza conflict began. On the same evening, Franco-Israeli singer Amir faced a boycott call in Brest. Separately, in Italy the Verona Philharmonic Theatre cancelled planned appearances by Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov amid scrutiny of his public support for President Vladimir Putin — a decision defended by Italy's culture minister as opposing cultural propaganda for authoritarian regimes.
The incident at the Philharmonie has reignited debate about the role of cultural venues in geopolitical disputes, the limits of protest in public spaces, and the adequacy of security at major cultural events.
