In his Philharmonic Paris at Francethe music was overshadowed by political tension. On Thursday night (06.11.2025), the concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, held at the Pierre Boulez Grand Hall, was interrupted three times after incidents caused by some spectators.
According to the management of the Paris Philharmonic in France, spectators lit smoke bombs inside the hall and fights broke out in the stands during the Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert Israelas broadcast by the French channel BFMTV.
In videos and photos released on social media, spectators can be seen lighting a red smoke generator, turning the Paris Philharmonic into a stage reminiscent of… a football field.
Hooded pro-Palestinian activists bullied by @cgt_spectacle disrupted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert this evening at the @philharmonie of Paris by lighting smoke bombs, thereby endangering the public. The concert was able to resume after the intervention of… pic.twitter.com/DVqEpv20t2
— Haziza Frédéric (@frhaz) November 6, 2025
Philharmonie de Paris – November 6, 2025
Tonight’s symphony concert by the Philharmonic Israel Orchestra, led by Grand Conductor Lahav Shani, was targeted this evening, during the first part, on several occasions.
The spectators avoided the worst by mastering these… pic.twitter.com/TnOXN8O7cL— Aurélia Weizmann (@aurelieweizmann) November 6, 2025
Difficult evening at the Philharmonie this evening. Shouts, sirens, sparklers, leaflets. High anti-Semitic tension. Music has triumphed. But how much longer are we going to put up with this? pic.twitter.com/YJ5GV445Ug
— Osman (@DavidOsmanParis) November 6, 2025
Tobacco and conflict in public
“Three times ticketed spectators tried to interrupt the concert, two of them by lighting smoke bombs,” the Philharmonic said in a statement, adding that “clashes occurred between spectators and rioters before they were removed.” The concert, which had been temporarily interrupted, continued and ended without further incident.
The management of the Philharmonic has condemned “strongly the serious incidents” and announced that it will file a lawsuit, citing “exposure to danger of the public, artists and staff”.
A concert in a politically tense atmosphere
From the very announcement of the appearance of the Israeli orchestra, based in Tel Aviv, the event had caused reactions, due to the war in Gaza. Artists’ collectives and unions, including CGT Spectacle, had called for the concert to be cancelled, arguing that it “cannot take place without addressing the crimes committed in Gaza”.
The Philharmonic refused to cancel the event, reminding that “artists cannot be held responsible for the decisions of their governments”.
Reactions and condemnations
Crif president Yonatan Arfi condemned X’s “unacceptable episodes” and called for “exemplary sanctions”. “Such actions will never succeed in silencing artists targeted by hate,” he wrote.
The Cité de la musique said in a statement that “violence is not a form of dialogue” and that “its introduction into a concert hall is extremely serious.”
Culture Minister Rashida Dati also weighed in before the concert: “Is it CGT Spectacle’s job to censor artists? No. We welcome this orchestra to the Philharmonic — music is a universal language and must remain a space for dialogue and coexistence,” he told Sud Radio.
The incidents, which took place despite heightened security measures, reflect the tense atmosphere in France surrounding cultural events linked to Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war.