Protests disrupt Concert by israeli Conductor Lahav Shani in Paris
Paris,France – September 17,2025 – A performance by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra,led by Israeli conductor Lahav Shani,was met with disruption and protest at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris on Tuesday evening. The incident underscores a growing wave of controversy surrounding Shani’s appearances as the conflict in Gaza continues, and highlights the increasing pressure faced by artists perceived to be connected to the Israeli government.
Despite a cancellation of a scheduled performance at the Flanders Festival in Ghent, Belgium, just days prior – organizers cited Shani’s perceived lack of public distancing from Israeli policy – the concert in Paris proceeded as planned.Baptiste charroing, director of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, affirmed the performance would continue, a decision met with widespread support within the German and broader music community. A Change.org petition garnering over 16,000 signatures, including that of renowned pianist Martha Argerich, voiced dismay over the cancellations and championed artistic freedom.
However, the atmosphere inside the concert hall was immediately tense. As Shani and Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili took the stage to begin Beethoven‘s Violin Concerto, a voice shouting in hebrew in support of Israel broke the silence. The outburst was swiftly met with a chorus of boos and shouts from the audience demanding the speaker cease.
“Shut up, idiot!” and “Get out of here, you fool!” were among the cries that erupted, creating a jarring and unsettling prelude to the performance. The initial moments of the concerto felt strained, the introduction lingering as the soloist’s violin struggled to overcome the lingering disruption.
The incident occurred with minimal police presence – only a single patrol car was stationed outside the venue – raising questions about security preparedness given the potential for protest.
Shani is slated to become the music director of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra in the fall of 2026, and also currently serves as the music director of the israel Philharmonic Orchestra. His position has increasingly placed him at the center of a debate about the role of artists in times of political conflict, and the boundaries between artistic expression and political responsibility.
Keywords: Lahav Shani, Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Israel, Gaza, Protest, Concert, Beethoven, Martha Argerich, Flanders Festival, Music, Politics, Cancel Culture, Artistic freedom.
