London : A powerful moment of political expression unfolded at the prestigious Royal Opera House in London on Saturday night, July 19, during the curtain call of Giuseppe Verdi’s Il Trovatore. A performer from the cast stunned the audience by unfurling a Palestinian flag onstage, sparking a brief scuffle as the show concluded, reported the Guardian.
The incident occurred while the performers were taking their final bows after the season’s last performance. Video footage shared on social media shows the performer — believed to be a member of the chorus — standing prominently on a tiered stage, holding the flag across his chest. Other cast members in elaborate costumes, including some with horned helmets, looked on as the audience applauded.
Moments later, a person from backstage attempted to seize the flag. However, the performer resisted, momentarily snapping back into place with the flag still held firmly in hand.
The Royal Opera House later issued a statement clarifying that the action was neither approved nor coordinated with the company.
“The display of the flag was a spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist,” the Opera said in a statement to the BBC.
“It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality.”
The staging of Il Trovatore, directed by Adele Thomas, is a reimagining of the opera’s dark themes of desire and curses. But Saturday night’s closing act became memorable not for its music, but for this striking moment of defiance and solidarity with Palestine.
The bold gesture has sparked debate online, with many hailing the act as a courageous stand for human rights, while others criticized it for politicizing an artistic space.
