In the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, a climate activist disrupted the performance of Verdi’s Requiem. He said ‘sorry’ neatly before he started the depressing speech we all know. Previous actions in museums were characterized by a muddled, slightly absurdist symbolism that was rather distracting (why a can of tomato paste in the neck?). Now that symbolism was inescapable.
In the majestic hall stood young and desperate against old and it will last our time. They could have just listened to him, he didn’t do anything. Yet he was immediately taunted, scolded, and knocked down, with a doggedness that suggested it wasn’t so much the interruption of their evening as the need to keep out doomsday stories.
“We are like the orchestra on the Titanic that continues to play quietly while the ship is already sinking,” the boy cried before being taken away. Then the orchestra resumed Requiem.