http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU
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
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.