The Philharmonie de Paris has issued an open letter to its audience following the serious incidents that interrupted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert on 6 November. Signed by General Director Olivier Mantei, the letter describes the evening as “a terrible night” that “deeply shocked the public, the artists, and the staff,” and reaffirms that the institution’s concert halls “must not become places of violence.”
The Philharmonie stresses that its venues are “common spaces” — places where people who may not know each other, who may not resemble one another, and who may hold radically different opinions, share a sensitive artistic experience. “This is what we defend and must preserve,” the letter states.
The institution also announces that, beyond the initial complaint filed immediately after the concert, it has now submitted a new legal complaint targeting all unknown individuals involved in the violence (the standard French procedure known as plainte contre X, a complaint against unidentified persons).
The letter also clarifies that the performance of Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, as a second encore “was the orchestra’s choice alone.” The Philharmonie emphasises that this piece was not scheduled in the programme and had not been performed elsewhere during the orchestra’s European tour.
Despite what it describes as “intolerable physical and verbal violence” and the “instrumentalisation” that followed, the Philharmonie reaffirms its commitment to an ambitious, open, and plural artistic programme, thanking its audience for their support.
Full English translation of the Philharmonie de Paris open letter
LETTER TO THE PUBLIC
Following the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert of 6 November
Dear audiences of the Philharmonie de Paris,
This institution, which belongs to you, experienced a terrible evening on 6 November. The serious events that took place during the concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, despite significant security measures, deeply shocked the public, the artists, and the teams of the Philharmonie.
Whatever the opinions of each individual, we cannot accept our concert halls becoming places of violence. These halls are common goods — spaces in which people who do not know one another, who may not resemble one another, and whose ideas may be very far apart, share a sensitive experience. This is what we defend and must preserve.
We have never been closed to debate nor oblivious to the movements and upheavals of the world, while humbly recognising the limits of our ability to influence the society around us, to which we also belong. What happened on 6 November at the Philharmonie goes beyond the Philharmonie — and it struck us directly.
We have taken responsibility on the judicial level, for it is our duty to protect the public, the teams, and the artists, and to affirm our refusal of any form of violence. Thus, after the first complaint filed at the end of the concert, a few days ago we submitted a second complaint contre X (a legal complaint against unidentified individuals), in order to cover all those who may have committed acts of physical or verbal violence during that evening. It will be up to the justice system to determine the exact circumstances in which these acts took place and to identify and assess the responsibility of each person involved.
Furthermore, in reaction to the disruptions of the concert, the orchestra performed the Israeli national anthem as a second encore. This piece had not been planned in the programme and had not been performed elsewhere in the European tour of which this concert was a part. The Philharmonie wishes to stress that this choice was that of the orchestra, and the orchestra alone.
Despite the intolerable physical and verbal violence to which they were exposed — and of which they may also have been victims — despite the interpretations and instrumentalisation that followed, which we regret, the teams of the Cité de la musique – Philharmonie de Paris remain fully committed to continuing to offer you an ambitious programme that will always remain open and plural.
We wish to thank you for your support and loyalty.
Olivier Mantei
General Director, Philharmonie de Paris
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