The Metropolitan Opera in New York City was disrupted during the opening night of Richard Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” revival by climate protesters shouting “No Opera” from the balconies on Thursday night. The protesters, affiliated with the group Extinction Rebellion NYC, unfurled banners reading “No Opera On A Dead Planet,” leading Met officials to bring down the curtain halfway through the second act. Security officials then removed the protesters, and the show was delayed for 22 minutes.
Met General Manager Peter Gelb appeared onstage to inform the audience that the house lights would remain on for security to identify and remove any additional protesters. The interruption caused the production to end closer to midnight than the original 11 p.m. scheduled time. The protesters were removed from the premises and referred to the police, but no arrests were reported.
The return of Otto Schenk’s classic production was eagerly anticipated among opera-goers, marking the Met debut of baritone Christian Gerhaher as Wolfram and featuring Austrian tenor Andreas Schager as the title role. Extinction Rebellion said the demonstration was timed to coincide with the main character’s declaration that ‘love is a spring to be drunk from,’ citing the contamination of water sources in the climate crisis.
This incident is not the first time climate activists have disrupted cultural and sporting events. The protestors’ actions were reminiscent of previous protests during classical music performances and sporting events. Last year, a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Amsterdam was disrupted by climate activists who compared their actions to the orchestra on the Titanic playing while the ship was sinking.
In a statement, Extinction Rebellion NYC said the demonstration was important to raise awareness about the climate emergency. However, not all audience members were supportive of the protest, with some expressing concerns about their safety and others feeling annoyed by the interruption. This incident brings to light the increasing trend of climate activists disrupting public events in an effort to raise awareness about climate change.
The interruption at the Metropolitan Opera serves as a reminder that environmental issues are a growing concern and are increasingly influencing public events. It also highlights the ongoing conversation around the role of activism in cultural and entertainment spaces.
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