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Four people have been arrested over disruptions to a concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris on Thursday night, including setting off flares inside the concert hall, according to French officials. French officials denounced the actions, which followed other acts of protests against the orchestra and Israeli artists over the Israeli military’s killing of civilians in Gaza since the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks. “No violence, no antisemitic acts, no attacks on artists can be tolerated in our theaters and concert halls,” Rachida Dati, France’s culture minister, said on Friday. Laurent Nuñez, the interior minister, told reporters, “There is nothing that justifies endangering the lives of spectators who were there to attend a concert.” The orchestra’s conductor, Lahav Shani, has emphasized the Israel Philharmonic’s independence; but it receives some money from the Israeli government. On Thursday, the orchestra was playing in the 2,400-seat Philharmonie de Paris concert hall when audience members tried several times to interrupt the performance, using flares on two occasions, the Philharmonie said in a statement. “Other audience members intervened and clashes ensued,” it said, adding, “The troublemakers were removed and the concert, which had been interrupted, resumed and ended peacefully.” Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
