Sunday, November 28, 2010

To lift my spirits, and yours

Random Act of Praise
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 was 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 randomactsofculture.org. The Opera Company thanks Macy's and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ (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 operaphila.org/RAC. This event was planned to coincide with the first day of National Opera Week.

8 comments:

Mom L said...

Absolutely amazing! Thank you for sharing that!!!

Nancy in Iowa

Nancy K. said...

No matter how many times I watch it, I still get goosebumps!

Unknown said...

Love it! Oh to sing in a setting like that... Brings back good memories from my choir years.

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

would love to see something like that, doubt they'd ever come to a place like Battle Mountain though, just not enough people.

Kelly said...

What an uplifting moment! I watched it and it gave me goose bumps also. Thanks for sharing.

Janna said...

Wow! I wish I had been there in person!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Excellent!

Sharon said...

Wow, how magical! My high school madrigals group participated in a choral event at UCLA and in the open commons the gathered participants broke into a spontaneous Hallelujah Chorus - everyone knew it. It's something I will never forget. That piece how power.