The Opera Company of Philadelphia last weekend put together a colossal musical surprise with the help of 28 other organizations. This event, one of the "Random Acts of Culture" being spearheaded by the Knight Foundation over the next few years, brought together more than 650 choristers who mingled with shoppers at the Macy's store in Center City Philadelphia.
At noon on Saturday (October 30), the famous Wanamaker Organ could be heard breaking into the opening measures of the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah," and those hundreds of choristers located all over the place chimed in right on cue, startling the heck out of unsuspecting customers.
Take a listen:
Harry, thanks for this post. There really are good things happening.
ReplyDeleteAs a Philly native, I spent childhood Yuletides in the old John Wanamaker store, now Macy's, standing near the big brass eagle (a popular Philadelphis meeting spot) and listening to the famous old organ playing Christmas music.
ReplyDeleteLast summer I took my son, Bill, and his Mongolian wife, Oyuntsetseg, to the Philly Macy's, showed them the eagle and explained what I could of this venerable tradition, sans the organ music and Christmas decor.
Now, thanks to you, I'll send them this video that really captures the spirit I remember. What a swell exercise the the Knight Foundation put on!
With gratitude,