Skip to content
Opinion
Link copied to clipboard

Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupt Philadelphia Orchestra's performance in Brussels

Orchestra leadership is mulling heightened security steps for the rest of the tour.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in a file photo
Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra in a file photoRead moreHans van der Woerd
    by Peter Dobrin | Columnist
    Published 

Pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted the Philadelphia Orchestra's Thursday night performance in Brussels, urging the orchestra to cancel the upcoming Israel leg of its tour.

The protesters broke into a performance of the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor with chants of "free, free, Palestine," and after about 30 seconds, music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin stopped conducting and the music came to a halt, said cellist John Koen. Security removed the protesters, and the concert resumed about 25 minutes later, he said.

An orchestra spokeswoman said she was unsure of the number of protesters, but she believes two were removed from the hall.

>> READ MORE: Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin resolute about visit to Israel

>> READ MORE: Yannick slams his baton after pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt 'Tosca' performance

The orchestra leadership said it would be assessing next steps. "We're in talks with the other presenters [in the other cities on the tour] to speak about security measures that might be taken," said orchestra spokeswoman Ashley Berke.