Posted on 11/11/2010 7:58:39 AM PST by combat_boots
On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 "Random Acts of Culture" to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years. The initiative transports the classical arts out of the concert halls and opera houses and into our communities to enrich our everyday lives. To learn more about this program and view more events, visit www.randomactsofculture.org. The Opera Company thanks Macy's and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ (www.wanamakerorgan.com) for their partnership, as well as Organ Music Director Peter Conte and Fred Haas, accompanists; OCP Chorus Master Elizabeth Braden, conductor; and Sound Engineer James R. Stemke. For a complete list of participating choirs and more information, visit www.operaphila.org/RAC. This event was planned to coincide with the first day of National Opera Week.
I heard Neal Boortz talking about this on his show the other day. Just hearing him describe it brought tears to my eyes.
I love this. Last year they did it in the Reading Terminal. we need more of this kind of ‘Rave’ :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zmwRitYO3w&feature=related
I like this one a little better. It seems more intimate.
I grew up in Philly, and **loved** going to Wanamakers at Christmas both as a child and as an adult. It was like entering a fairyland.
“Meet me at the eagle!” Yo!
The most amazing thing about the Reading Terminal "Flash Opera" earlier this year was that the Reading Terminal Market was CLEAN...a far cry from it's time as an actual commuter train terminal.
See more about Wanamaker's at
http://wanamakerorgan.com/xmas.php
(amused at the web-monkey's use of "xmas.php" as the webpage name for a website that boldly proclaims CHRISTMAS all over it).
ping
What a treat!
Just watching it did the same for me.... I have no idea why, but it did. Such a cool thing.
Saw this the other day. Goosebumps!
Is the Victor Cafe still alive and well in Philly?
Their website is still active, so I assume so. We haven’t been there since before our teenagers were born. Funny how that happens . . . Interesting place.
I was there there about 10 years ago visiting in-laws. We had dinner there on my daughter's 10th birthday, and the whole staff gathered around and sang, "Happy Birthday" to her. You have not lived until you've heard that song done by a dozen professionally trained opera singers.
Yes, it was used as the restaurant in the 2006 movie Rocky Balboa
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