Yannick slams his baton after pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt 'Tosca' performance

Activists had been protesting outside nearly all of the orchestra's Kimmel concerts for the last several weeks as the orchestra departs for its May 24-June 5 tour of Europe and Israel.

Roughly 60 pro-Palestinaian protesters showed up on Saturday, May 19, 2018, blocking Broad Street for five minutes. The protesters eventually moved to the southbound lane, where police directed traffic around them.Read morePatricia Madej

by David Patrick Stearns, FOR THE INQUIRER

Published May 19, 2018, 10:10 p.m. ET

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stopped traffic on Broad Street and disrupted the performance of Tosca at the Kimmel Center on Saturday night, frustrating both musicians and audience members.

As attendees made their way to the opera around 7:15 p.m., roughly 60 activists blocked both lanes of traffic but moved to the southbound lane where police directed traffic around them.

After the 10-minute disruption, the orchestra's interim co-president, Matthew Loden, told the audience: "We live in an age where dissent is important. It matters. It should be heard. But the sanctity of the concert hall should be respected."

Activists had been protesting outside nearly all of the orchestra's Kimmel concerts for the last several weeks as the orchestra prepares to depart for its May 24-June 5 tour of Europe and Israel.