No one wants to talk about it, but on Sunday night, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra music director Miguel Harth-Bedoya was told to leave the Bass Performance Hall lobby — because he was carrying his daughter's violin case. Harth-Bedoya recorded a video outside the lobby door and posted it on Facebook.

The conductor ran afoul of strict — some say ridiculous — security procedures imposed back in January by Performing Arts Fort Worth Inc., the organization that owns and runs Bass Hall. The rules forbid any bags or purses larger than 12 by 4 by 12 inches. Luggage, backpacks and shopping bags are not allowed, and bags or purses larger than 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches must be inspected. Ushers and security personnel have been scrutinizing arriving audience members and inspecting larger bags.

Dione Kennedy, president and CEO of Performing Arts Fort Worth, was said to be unavailable for comment. Media and public relations manager Malcolm Mayhew emailed a copy of a statement from her, saying, "We are looking into this matter and will be speaking to Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra management.

"Mr. Harth-Bedoya is aware of our security procedures, including the bag admittance program that went into effect January 17. Additionally, all four resident companies — Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera and the Cliburn — were made aware of the security enhancements well in advance of implementation and given the opportunity to share with staff, artists and patrons."

In his Facebook post, which had been watched more than 25,000 times as of Tuesday morning, Harth-Bedoya wrote: "Tonight, after having conducted throughout the weekend and hosted 8 guest orchestras ALL day long yesterday, I come to hear my daughter play with the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, and I get kicked out by the police, inside the lobby of my concert hall, for holding my daughter's violin case after her performance. The police told me that YES you could come into Bass Hall with a loaded gun, but NOT with a violin case!"

According to Mayhew, "Firearms, whether concealed or not, are not permitted in Bass Hall."

Under the Bass Hall rules, even Fort Worth Symphony musicians are not allowed to take instrument cases into the performance hall itself or the lobby, only into designated backstage areas. Musicians now are also required to use management-provided padlocks, rather than their own, on instrument lockers backstage. Out of their own security concerns, most musicians no longer use the lockers.

Although salary cuts threatened by Fort Worth Symphony management last summer prompted a nearly four-month strike by musicians, the security rules were imposed by Bass Hall, not the orchestra management. FWSO authorities have declined to comment on the situation, and there was no response to a request to speak with Harth-Bedoya. But there have been lively discussions on Facebook, virtually all opposing the security regulations.

Fort Worth Symphony cellist Karen Hall posted on Facebook: "This policy helps no one and hurts many. Think about how much money PAFW is spending to insure that no one brings in food or drink. Safety can't be a concern or they would start using metal detectors on men, who could easily conceal 5-7 handguns in a business suit. What problem are they trying to solve, and at what cost?"

The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which comes to Bass Hall starting next week, could add logistical problems with performers and audience members coming and going at frequent intervals during afternoon and evening performances.

Conductor Leonard Slatkin, who is chairing the Cliburn Competition jury and conducting the Fort Worth Symphony during the competition's final round, commented on Norman Lebrecht's widely read "Slipped Disc" blog that the video was "most disturbing. Although the need for heightened security these days is understandable, the concert hall is simply not the place for overly stringent inconveniences. Adding to that is the simple fact that no one seemed to recognize the longstanding music director of the FWSO as someone who automatically should be allowed entry with any guest of his choosing."

Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducts the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at the Bass Performance Hall on Feb. 24. (Robert W. Hart / Special Contributor)

Jacques Marquis, president and CEO of the Cliburn Foundation, said: "We met [Bass Hall management] a few weeks ago, and we told them that most of our fanatics will come with a bag and program book and a binder for the Cliburn. We asked them to authorize that, because the bag is a little bit larger than the authorization. Actually they were very flexible. I just saw them this morning, raising concerns, but they told me they will do everything they can for the patrons and music lovers."

Major concert halls and Broadway theaters in New York have mostly perfunctory bag checks, like Bass Hall's. Former Dallas Opera music director Graeme Jenkins, who conducts widely in Europe reports, "No checks in St. Petersburg, Russia; Vienna, Austria; London, UK; Lisbon, Portugal."

Especially since performance facilities in the Dallas Arts District have not imposed bag inspections, one does wonder why they are thought necessary in Fort Worth. But, apart from the Cliburn's Marquis, no one is talking — least of all explaining why the extra security measures were imposed.

"If you increase security, people don't like it," Marquis said, "but if something happens and you don't have proper security, people will damn you. ... I hope people will not be scared to come to concerts because their bags are too big."

Formerly the classical music critic of The Dallas Morning News, Scott Cantrell now covers the beat as a freelance writer.