Opera Company of Philadelphia sings "Hallelujah Chorus" at Wanamaker Building!

[evporretta]

Magnificent music......beautiful, historic building. Miss the Philadelphia institution that Wanamaker's once was.

[awreslr2]

I have seen some other version of this produced by the folks at the Opera Company... but to see someone's video who was surprised by the event, just great! I so love these random acts of culture all over the world !!  Thanks for this!

[patriotusa200]

BEAUTIFUL.

Celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ.

This is for all the world to hear.

Merry 'Christmas and Happy New Year..

[Schloo]

This happened to me at Tires Plus.

[jonparreno]

This is simply awesome. I was moved by the fact that these singers spread themselves incognito on the floor of the shopping center, so the focus is on the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the midst of economic uncertainty and a nation divided, they sang as one voice glorifying our Savior. I was also encouraged by all the comments- so many believers around the world who worship and love Jesus! To God be the glory!

[Bdozack]

If only they world understood the true words or this song. May Christ return soon.

[TUBEQUEENEE]

Ahhh....brings back beautiful memories. Mom and I used to sing in the church choir. Mama had just a beautiful voice. Thank you for the smile to my heart and the goosebumps that I always get when I hear this sung like this.

[skimmie55]

@TUBEQUEENEE Awwwww! Thanks for sharing about your mom! I'm glad this brought back such good memories for you!

[Mardeca]

Whoa! That's my sister at the very beginning! Go Gracie Grace!

[skimmie55]

@Mardeca Very cool!

[Quelquefois1793]

A day before Halloween?

[HermitintheRain]

@Quelquefois1793 also a day before Reformation Day. The date when Martin Luther hung his 95 Thesis which marked the birth of the Reformation. Remembered in many Protestant denominations around the world.

[crystal3241]

Great job!! Your video is superb, because you captured the harmonies. Our choir is working on this right now, and I especially enjoyed it for that reason.

[skimmie55]

@crystal3241 Wow, thank you so much! I hope your choir has a wonderful time performing this piece!!

[crystal3241]

@skimmie55

You're welcome! I'm a member of the choir at Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. We have three campus choirs that'll be performing it together..

[STS646]

I bet you if hip hop artists had done this they would have been arrested.

[LisaMarli]

Thanks for posting a "live" version of this. The official post is nice, but this is more intimate. And thanks to all who participated.

[judydear]

wouldn't it be incredible if we could just walk around every day and run into pockets like this....be part of moments like this? what a transformational experience.

[eleanoreann]

Absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much!

[saintrosie]

Thanks for this - you captured individual voices so well! Got me all teared up and thinking of old times, I have spent some happy hours trolling around Wanamaker's. I never knew how magnificent the organ could sound!

[RevWarRev]

This is as wonderful as the "official" YouTube vid. Its totally cool how you capture the parts, beautiful, clear, powerfull on their own, but coming together to create a more magnificent whole. Wish I'd been there!!!!

[skimmie55]

@RevWarRev Thank you so much!! It really was incredible....I still get goosebumps hearing it again! (I really wanted to sing too, but no way did I want my voice on the video!)

[hettyjw]

imagine how amazing it will be in Heaven when voices will be joined together- singing eternal praises to our God!

[piccolo18]

TRULY AWESOME!!!!HAIL TO THE KING!!!

[pnaomiw]

i just watched what seemed like the original version, with the names of all the choirs involved. Thanks to all of you! Amazing!Your video too gives me chills. It seemed everyone forgot to shop, lol. I was in high school choir and sung "Messiah", I still remember my part (low alto). This song for some reason stays with you. @TruClassic: all the thieves were so mesmerized, they forgot to steal.

[frog1674]

I love the phrase 'random acts of culture'

[arnlov]

Because you were down on the floor of the store the voices you captured were more exciting to hear than from the higher level. You did a great job capturing. the spontaneity of the event.

[skimmie55]

@arnlov Thank you for the very nice comment!

[denise4146]

This was amazing!

[iheasley]

I was there singing!! The Opera company just posted the entire video on YouTube: just search Random Act of Culture Philadelphia Opera Company. It was a great moment for all! I saw a few people crying. We sing with Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia. Thanks so much for posting.

[guenwyvar99]

@iheasley So was I ! I used to sing with Choral Arts when they first started back in the 80s ! I've been with Singing City since '89

[pizmyr]

I represented my chorus, Wayne Oratorio Society, along with 7/8 other singers. We had a BLAST!!! What an awesome experience! Just to put some icing on the cake one of my choir friends and i appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer in an article about the event on Sunday.

[soopercali]

To everyone who took part, thank you for this wonderful gift of music.

[karatePrincess67]

I was part of the Arcadia University conecrt choir in this "random act of culture" and I can honestly say it was one incredible experience. I'm so glad my school was able to be a part of this!

[kadamshouse]

It was an amazing thing to be part of. Wish we could do it every year! ....Member of West Chester Area Community Chorus

[TruClassic]

all the thieves were like yes keep singing!

[guenwyvar99]

Hi everybody !! I,too was in this chorus with the Singing City Choir. It was a totally awesome experience !

[tchklette]

Fabulous!!!! It is wonderful to hear that magnificent organ being put to such a use! The singers are terrific! SOOOOO wish I was there.

[sanctify99]

this is so great. gives me chills!

[SweetUPnDOWN]

Chills and near tears...so awesome......I <3 Philadelphia

[antiquedaze]

@SweetUPnDOWN ME too!! Imiss that organ - it was part of my Christmas celebrations for sooooo many years.... this is giving me chills.!! I love it

[greenirishgirl23]

I was a model in the fashion show there today, and heard about the event just in time to do out and join. I am a singer, and Hallelujah Chorus is a favorite. It gave me goosebumps just re-watching this. What an amazing moment.

[Joan969808]

Correct date is October 30, 2010, isn't it?

[skimmie55]

@Joan969808 Thanks, I fixed the typo.

[farleylives]

Awesome. Ready for Christmas!

[tigerlily0617]

This was so fun! Thanks to all with a little song in their heart!

[randyp19070]

Hi, I was in this chorus. Thanks for the kind words, but it wasn't just the Opera Company of Philadelphia singing. They organized it and several dozen area choirs participated, including the one I sing in, the Philadelphia Chorus (Raquel Garcia, director). OCP said there were 683 of us! OCP in turn was working with a national organization called the Knight Foundation which is trying to commit 1000 "random acts of culture" nationwide.

[skimmie55]

@randyp19070 Thanks for filling me in! I revised the video info. Thanks to all 683 of you for a magical experience, and to the Knight Foundation for a wonderful idea!!

[thissuddensea]

This was amazing! I was involved through my school and it was such an honor. thanks for posting!