Opera-goers groaned, booed, and hurled insults when a protester’s tiresome tirade disrupted their night out.
“Get the f*ck out of here,” yelled one irked patron as the curtain came down behind the activist mid-diatribe.
“Get a job,” cried another as the lights went out and the booing intensified.
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A third audience member could be seen giving the troublemaker a shove from behind, but he persisted with his rant for well over a minute.
He and two others launched their bizarre stunt during a performance of Carmen last Friday (21 Nov).
It was to protest what they called “fascism in the art world.”
It happened at the Metropolitan Opera House, in New York, US.
Student Autumn Miron who filmed the commotion said: “When the first two men got out of their seats and went on stage I was confused for a moment.
“But realised what was happening as soon as one man began holding up signs.
“I could see that most of them said ‘Kochs are murderers’ and other slogans and things about the Kochs.
“I was more worried about the second man who fully entered the scene, which was a fight scene involving quite a few actors.
“Those scenes are very coordinated and someone could easily fall or be bumped into the pit.”
She also told What’s The Jam: “I was a bit anxious because security did not immediately notice the men and I wasn’t sure of their intentions.
“The man on the stage was eventually tackled and then the man on the side of the stage with the posters dropped them and ran into the chaos in the middle of the stage and began jumping around.
“I believe a background actor or someone from the choir helped remove the second man.
“When both were removed from the stage and the curtain began to close the man in the video stood up and began his ‘speech’. That’s when I began recording.”
The Kochs they referred to are American industrialists known for their vast business empire and major influence on conservative politics.
Autumn, 31, continued: “I was annoyed but nowhere near as angry as some of the audience.
“My annoyance was mainly based on how long it took for the men to be removed because if they had had intentions other than disruption people could have been injured.
“Also, it was ironic that the men chose the opera house instead of the David H. Koch Theater right next door in the Lincoln Center where the New York City Ballet performs.
“In the video you can kind of hear someone yell this at the man and he replies with something along the lines of, ‘It’s all the same.’
“The production resumed about 20 minutes later after a security sweep.”
A suspect, 34, has since been charged with criminal trespassing.
Autumn revealed yesterday (26 Nov): “I attended a performance at the opera last night.
“And I noticed they had more staff standing to the side of the access points to the stage.”
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