The opening night of a revival of Richard Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” at the Metropolitan Opera in New York was interrupted Thursday evening by climate demonstrators shouting “No Opera” from the balconies on both sides of the opera house.
Protesters from the group Extinction Rebellion NYC unfurled banners reading “No Opera On A Dead Planet,” said Peter Gelb, the Met’s general manager. Met officials were then forced to take down the curtain around 9:30 p.m., halfway through the second act.
About eight minutes passed before security officials led the protesters out on the balconies, Mr. Gelb said.
The crowd booed the protesters and burst into applause when the curtains opened again, but the elation was short-lived.
A woman sitting in the orchestra section of the audience then stood up and started shouting.
The curtains closed again. As security removed the woman, Mr. Gelb with other officials on how to proceed.
Many spectators shouted back at the demonstrators, while people shouted, “Go away!” “Go home!” and “Shut up!” Some attendees walked out, with one person wondering, “Isn’t there security here?”
The show was delayed 22 minutes, Mr. Gelb said.
Mr. Gelb appeared on stage to inform the audience that the house lights would remain on so that security could quickly identify and remove any additional protesters who might show up during the remainder of the four-and-a-half-hour performance.
The production was scheduled to end shortly after 11 p.m., but will instead end closer to midnight due to the interruptions.
Mr Gelb said the protesters had been removed from the premises and referred to the police.
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said no arrests have been reported.
The return of Otto Schenk’s classic production was eagerly awaited by operagoers as it marked the Met debut of sought-after baritone Christian Gerhaher, who sang the role of Wolfram. The Austrian tenor Andreas Schager sang the title role, Elza van den Heever was Elisabeth and the opera was conducted by Donald Runnicles.
In a statement, Extinction Rebellion said the demonstration was timed to “coincide with the protagonist’s declaration that ‘love is a spring to drink from.’”
It added: “contrary to the words spoken on stage, the springs are not clean now because we are in a climate crisis and our water is polluted.”
“Everyone was so shocked,” said George Chauncey, a professor of history at Columbia University, who was in the orchestra section. “We didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Mr Chauncey said some audience members were concerned for their safety, while others were annoyed that opening night was interrupted.
“I agree there is a climate emergency and I understand the frustration that drives people to do something like this,” he said. “But I’m not sure it’s very effective.”
Before the show, several demonstrators were at the house to protest the war between Israel and Hamas, including Nan Goldin, the photographer and activist.
Thursday’s interruption was just the latest example of climate activists disrupting a classical music concert.
In September, climate activists interrupted a performance in Switzerland. And last year during a performance of Verdi’s Requiem in Amsterdam, according to OperaWireclimate activists shouted: “We are in the middle of a climate crisis and we are like the orchestra on the Titanic that continues to play quietly while the ship is already sinking.” Minutes later they were escorted out.
Climate activists have also targeted museums, sometimes damaging paintings, and interrupting sporting events. In September, Extinction Rebellion NYC also interrupted the US Open semifinal between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova. Four protesters on the upper levels of Arthur Ashe Stadium called for an end to fossil fuels, and one activist stood with his feet on the ground. Their protests delayed the match by 49 minutes.
Javier C. Hernández reporting contributed.