Pretty Yende on the raw power of music: ‘opera is literally soul food'
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Scuffle breaks out after cast member raises Palestinian flag on Royal Opera House stage
A scuffle broke out at the Royal Opera House on Saturday after a cast member unfolded a Palestinian flag on stage. Video footage shared on social media showed a brief tussle between the actor who unfurled the flag and a staff member who tried to take it off him. The actor, who forcefully managed to yank the flag back, then continued to display it as the other cast members bowed to the audience. The bizarre incident, which took place at the encore of Il trovatore at the London venue in Covent Garden, shocked members of the audience. A witness told the Telegraph: 'At the Royal Opera House, one of the cast unfurled a Palestinian flag at the encore. 'Someone from the opera house/company then came on stage from the wings to try to remove the flag from the cast member who wrestled it back and refused to give it up during Il trovatore.' Another on X on Saturday added: 'Extraordinary scenes at the Royal Opera House tonight. 'During the curtain call for Il trovatore one of the background artists came on stage waving a Palestine flag. Just stood there, no bowing or shouting. Someone off stage kept trying to take it off him. Incredible.' — Syd Cassimaty (@sydcas) July 20, 2025 Opera fan Stephen Ratcliffe, who was also watching the production, on X added: 'Controversy at end of Trovatore @rbo_org tonight when an extra/chorus member unfurled a Palestinian flag. 'Off stage manager tried to grapple with him but he held his ground. Bet he won't be working there again.' A spokesman for the Royal Ballet and Opera said: 'The display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist. It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.' The waving of the flag has been interpreted as a shocking act of political allegiance, with some comments online calling for the actor to be sacked. MailOnline has contacted the Royal Ballet and Opera for further comment. The Royal Opera House and The Royal Opera have His Majesty The King as their official patron. The company has long been associated with the royals. It officially became 'The Royal Opera' in 1968 when it was awarded a Royal Charter. Since the construction of the first theater on the site in 1732, opera has been a regular attraction for the elites of Britain. In recent years, The Royal Opera has given an average of 150 performances per Season of approximately twenty operas. The main auditorium seats 2,256 people, making it the third largest in London, and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery. The flag controversy happened during the show which takes place in an imagined 15th century, telling the story of Azucena who claims that in a moment of madness she consigned her own baby to her mother's funeral pyre. Meanwhile Manrico, her surviving son, is locked in conflict with the Count di Luna for the love of Leonora.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Cast member displays Palestinian flag at end of Royal Opera House performance
A Palestinian flag was reportedly unfolded on stage at the Royal Opera House in London by a cast member on Saturday night during a curtain call. The incident is said to have taken place during the encore of Il trovatore, with attempts made to remove the flag allegedly being resisted. 'At the Royal Opera House, one of the cast unfurled a Palestinian flag at the encore. Someone from the opera house/company then came on stage from the wings to try to remove the flag from the cast member who wrestled it back and refused to give it up during Il trovatore,' a member of the audience told the Telegraph. Another opera goer posted on X on Saturday: 'Extraordinary scenes at the Royal Opera House tonight. 'During the curtain call for Il trovatore one of the background artists came on stage waving a Palestine flag. Just stood there, no bowing or shouting. Someone off stage kept trying to take it off him. Incredible.' Another post on X from Stephen Ratcliffe, who was also watching the production, added: 'Controversy at end of Trovatore @rbo_org tonight when an extra/chorus member unfurled a Palestinian flag. Off stage manager tried to grapple with him but he held his ground. Bet he won't be working there again.' A spokesperson for the Royal Ballet and Opera said: 'The display of the flag was an unauthorised action by the artist. It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is a wholly inappropriate act.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Performer launches Gaza flag protest on Royal Opera House stage
A cast member at the Royal Opera House has unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage during the curtain call of Saturday's shows a brief scuffle as an official at the London venue tries unsuccessfully to stop the protest, with the performer refusing to let go of the large flag. It came on the closing night of Il trovatore, a four-act opera by Giuseppe Royal Opera House said the protest was "completely inappropriate for a curtain call". A spokesperson said: "The display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist."It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality."One cast member standing at the top of the stage is seen in videos of the incident silently displaying a large Palestinian flag, at one point shaking it the audience continues to applaud the performance, a man from the stage wings is seen attempting to wrestle the flag away from the cast member but they resist and hold on to it for the remainder of the curtain officials stood in the wings can then be seen shouting messages to the cast member. One member of the audience posted on X: "Extraordinary scenes at the Royal Opera House tonight."During the curtain call for Il trovatore one of the background artists came on stage waving a Palestine flag. "Just stood there, no bowing or shouting. Someone off stage kept trying to take it off him. Incredible."The identity of the cast member is unclear, but Il trovatore has now finished its 11-night run at the Royal Opera House, Covent protest comes as the war between Israel and Gaza continues, with a ceasefire yet to be struck.
