Calgary Opera removes singer waving Palestinian flag during opening night curtain call

The Calgary Opera removed a cast member from its remaining performances of "Tosca" after he displayed during the opera's opening-night curtain call Friday.

Bass-baritone singer Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega pulled out the flag during the curtain call following the opening-night performance. The opera company later released a statement calling Sanchez-Ortega's actions "unexpected and unauthorized," confirming that he would be replaced for the remaining performances.

"Individual political protest contravenes not only company policy, but also our responsibility to create a more connected, caring, and civil society through shared artistic experience," the statement read, according to OperaWire. "We recognize that this moment may have affected the audience — as well as cast members, crew, orchestral musicians, and Jubilee staff — in different ways, and we regret any discomfort and distress it caused."

"We have addressed this matter directly with the cast member and reinforced our expectations with the cast and production team," the statement continued. "Our commitment is to provide a welcoming and respectful environment for our artists, audiences, and community. The role of Angelotti will be performed by another artist for the remaining performances. We thank everyone who joined us for opening night and look forward to welcoming audiences to the remaining performances of Tosca.'"

Sanchez-Ortega, who posted a video of himself holding the flag on Instagram, released a statement saying he has "no regret" over his actions and claimed that Calgary Opera was faced with "financial threats" over the move.

"I have been informed that I have been removed from further performances of Tosca with the Calgary Opera following my display of the Palestinian flag during curtain call. I have no regret," he said. 

"This is the state of cultural institutions in ," Sanchez-Ortega wrote on social media. "I was informed that financial threats had been made against Calgary Opera. I hold no resentment. 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, an escaped political prisoner." 

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In a statement to , Calgary Opera declined to comment on "personnel matters" but added that all forms of personal protest, regardless of the political symbol, are prohibited on stage.

"Calgary Opera prohibits personal protest on our stages and at our events," it said. "The display of any protest symbol or action would result in similar consequences. We have reiterated this prohibition to all artists and staff, and will continue to apply it universally in response to all cases of unauthorized protest, regardless of the symbol or action that protest takes." 

"With respect to the cast member in question, he did not appear in yesterdays performance of Tosca, and will not appear in the October 24, 2026, closing performance," the statement added. "Beyond that, Calgary Opera does not comment on personnel matters."

Several entertainers have displayed the Palestinian display in protest of Israel's actions in Gaza since 2023, including performers from Gorillaz