Calgary Opera quickly distanced itself from the stunt, stressing that the political display had not been approved by the company.
By United with Israel Staff
A Canadian opera singer was removed from the remaining performances of Tosca after turning the production’s opening-night curtain call into an unauthorized pro-Palestinian protest.
Bass-baritone Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega pulled out a Palestinian flag and displayed it before the audience at Calgary Opera on Oct. 16 as members of the cast took their bows.
We are disturbed to learn that @CalgaryOpera has removed bass-baritone Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega from future performances of “Tosca” after he unveiled a Palestinian flag during the curtain call on opening night. Art is political, and artists should not be punished for expressing… pic.twitter.com/QUK2OMpP4s
— Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (@CJPME) October 19, 2026
Calgary Opera quickly distanced itself from the stunt, stressing that the political display had not been approved by the company.
“During the October 16 opening-night performance of ‘Tosca,’ a cast member displayed a flag during the curtain call. This action was unexpected and unauthorized,” the company said.
“Individual political protest contravenes not only company policy but also our responsibility to create a more connected, caring, and civil society through shared artistic experiences.”
The company apologized for the “discomfort and distress” the incident may have caused audience members, cast and crew, and announced that Sanchez-Ortega, who played Cesare Angelotti, would be replaced for the remaining performances.
Calgary Opera later clarified that its policy applies to all personal political protests and that any unauthorized protest symbol would result in similar consequences.
Sanchez-Ortega remained defiant following his removal, saying he had “no regret” over his decision to display the flag and criticizing what he described as “the state of cultural institutions in Canada.”
The decision sparked backlash from Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), a pro-Palestinian advocacy group, which demanded that Calgary Opera reverse its decision.
“We are disturbed to learn that @CalgaryOpera has removed bass-baritone Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega from future performances of ‘Tosca’ after he unveiled a Palestinian flag during the curtain call on opening night,” the group wrote on X.
“Art is political, and artists should not be punished for expressing support for the Palestinian people as they face a genocide. This decision must be reversed.”
Calgary Opera has stood by its decision, maintaining that the issue was not the specific political cause Sanchez-Ortega supported, but his decision to use the company’s stage for an unauthorized political demonstration.
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