Trouble inside and out of the Met as controversial John Adams opera reaches opening night.

John Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer has opened with a standing ovation inside the Metropolitan Opera House despite angry protests from several hundred outside. The opera, which depicts the 1985 hijacking of the cruise-ship Achille Lauro and the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, a wheelchair-bound American Jewish passenger by Palestinian terrorists, also received a small volley of vocal onslaughts from some in the audience.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s conductor David Robertson received loud cheers as he arrived in the pit, although there was a smattering of booing after the opening Chorus of Exiled Palestinians. Matters proceeded smoothly until just before the interval when a man shouted “The murder of Klinghoffer will never be forgiven” several times before he was escorted out by Met security staff. Otherwise, a woman shouted an obscenity at the moment that the singer playing Leon Klinghoffer was shot. Ushers also removed her from the auditorium. By the time the composer took his curtain call an enthusiastic audience gave him a rousing welcome.

During the day, a raft of speakers including...