Calgary Opera removes singer who waved Palestinian flag at Tosca curtain call

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Calgary Opera has removed bass Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega from the remainder of its run of Puccini's Tosca after he displayed a Palestinian flag during the opening-night curtain call on October 16. The production, staged at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, runs October 16–24; Sanchez-Ortega sang Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner.

In a statement, the company called the act 'unexpected and unauthorized': '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.' It apologized for any discomfort caused to audience members, cast, crew, orchestral musicians and Jubilee staff, said it had addressed the matter directly with the artist, and confirmed another singer would perform Angelotti for the rest of the run.

Sanchez-Ortega responded on social media: 'I have been informed that I have been removed from further performances of Tosca following my display of the Palestinian flag during curtain call. I have no regret. This is the state of cultural institutions in Canada.' He also said he had been told financial threats had been made against the company — a claim its statement did not address. He added: 'After the theatre, (political or otherwise) we all have to go home, and look at ourselves in the mirror. It was my honor to play the role of Angelotti.'

Reactions are split: HonestReporting Canada praised the swift action, while Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East said it was disturbed by the removal and urged the company to reverse its decision. The episode echoes a July 2025 incident at London's Royal Opera House, where a performer displayed a Palestinian flag during the curtain call of Verdi's Il trovatore; the company likewise called it 'spontaneous and unauthorized.'