Latest news with #Iltrovatore
Irish Independent
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘Extraordinary scenes' at Royal Opera House as ‘unauthorised' Palestine flag unfurled
The incident took place during a performance of Il trovatore on Saturday, with video footage circulating online showing people backstage attempting to take the flag off the unidentified performer as he shook it. 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.' In one of the videos, the audience could be heard applauding and cheering while the man was shaking the flag, before one audience member says 'oh my God' as a person attempts to take the flag off him. The incident came on the closing night of an 11-night run of the production, which was a four-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi. One poster on X, who claimed to have been a member of the audience, said: '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.' It comes as a large number of performers show their support for the people of Palestine amid the war in Gaza. Numerous artists at this year's Glastonbury Festival offered messages of support during their sets, including Kneecap, Bob Vylan, Wolf Alice and Amyl And The Sniffers. During her band's set, Wolf Alice singer Ellie Rowsell told the crowd at the Other Stage: 'Whilst we have the stage for just a little bit longer, we want to express our solidarity with the people of Palestine. No one should ever be afraid to do that.' Following their performances, Kneecap and Bob Vylan faced investigations into their sets by Avon and Somerset Police. The investigation into Kneecap's performance at the English festival has since been dropped by police ,who said they would take 'no further action' as there was 'insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence'.
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Moment Royal Opera House erupts in chaos as performer unfurls Palestinian flag onstage
A cast member unfolded a Palestinian flag during a Royal Opera House production on Saturday night before a stage manager tried to snatch the flag away, sparking an onstage tussle This is the moment the Royal Opera House erupted into chaos after a performer unfurled a Palestinian flag onstage. Social media footage filmed Saturday night shows the brief tussle between the actor with the flag and a stage manager who tried to snatch it off him. The performer was able to wrestle back the flag and continued to hold it, as the other cast members bowed to the Royal Opera House audience. The incident took place at the at the encore of Il trovatore at the London venue in Covent Garden, which had just finished its 11-night run. The identity of the cast member is unclear. 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." Some audience members took to social media to express their surprise at the incident. One wrote: "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 said they don't believe the performer will be working at the Opera House again. Stephen Ratcliffe wrote: "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 confirmed the waving of the flag was "unauthorised." It 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."
CBS News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Opera Colorado performs classic opera Il trovatore in concert format
Opera Colorado is performing the Italian opera, Il trovatore, in a concert format. The four act classic is shortened to 90-minutes, but still brings all the drama of the original. "You would think it's bare bones, but it's far from that. It's all the muscle, blood and guts of a full three house condensed... distilled to its essence," said Marcia Ragonetti, who is the Narrator in the production. Il trovatore is a twisty, turny melodrama. Secrets and misunderstandings drive the action to a dramatic conclusion. The opera starts with a love triangle. Count di Luna wants to marry Leonora, and Manrico, a knight, is in love with Leonora. The rivalry and desire for vengeance runs deep between Manrico and Count di Luna which leads to duels, capture, and ultimately, a devastating final scene. Production photography of Opera Colorado's 2025 Production of Il Trovatore in Concert in The Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Photographer: Matthew Staver Matthew Staver Il trovatore in Concert delivers all of Verdi's most powerful music and the iconic moments of the opera. There is also a Narrator who guides the audience through the story. "I have the best seat in the house because I'm on stage and the orchestra is right behind me. The singers are the most magnificant creatures. There are six of them plus a dancer. I'm happy to be among them and be their cheerleader," Ragonetti told CBS News Colorado Il trovatore in Concert would make a great entry into opera. It is a different experience than a fully staged, full length performance, but it may be easier to follow for a newcomer to opera. "The purists love it because they're getting the hits non-stop. A lot of it is very familiar. People will recognize this. I don't think a lot of it has been used in TV commercials, but it's beautiful, beautiful, dramatic music," Ragonetti explained. LINK: For Tickets and Information about Il trovatore in Concert Il trovatore in Concert has one more performance on Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House.
