Calgary Opera Replaces Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega After Tosca Flag Display
The Calgary Opera replaced bass-baritone singer Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega after he unfurled a Palestinian flag during the curtain call of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca on October 16, CBC reported. Sanchez-Ortega played the character Cesare Angelotti, an escaped political prisoner in the drama about political upheaval in Napoleonic Rome.
The opera company stated that the action was unexpected and unauthorized. According to OperaWire, the organization noted that individual political protest contravenes company policy and its responsibility to foster a connected, caring, and civil society through shared artistic experiences. The company apologized for any discomfort or distress caused to the audience, cast, crew, orchestral musicians, and Jubilee staff.
Social Media Response and Financial Threat Claims
Following his removal from the production, Sanchez-Ortega shared a video of the incident on his Instagram profile, according to The Globe and Mail. In a post that later expired, the singer wrote that he had no regrets and claimed financial threats had been made against the Calgary Opera.
After the theatre, [political or otherwise] we all have to go home, and look at ourselves in the mirror,
Sanchez-Ortega wrote on Instagram, adding that it was his honor to play the role of Angelotti. The Calgary Opera and Sanchez-Ortega did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.
Remaining Performances and Cast Adjustments
The production of Tosca continued with another artist stepping into the role of Angelotti for the remaining performances, which ran through October 24. The staging features Maria Natale, David Esteban, and Boaz Daniel. The Calgary Opera confirmed that the display of any protest symbol during its events violates internal policy and draws similar operational consequences.
Broader Rifts in Performing Arts Institutions
The incident mirrors other recent tensions within cultural institutions internationally. In 2025, the Royal Ballet and Opera faced internal unrest after a performer raised a Palestinian flag during a curtain call, an action the company similarly termed spontaneous and unauthorized. Other recent protests in the arts sector include actors donning keffiyehs during a Sydney Theatre Company performance of The Seagull in 2023, and demonstrations regarding sponsorships at Canadian Stage productions.
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