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

At noon on Oct. 30, 2010, shoppers in the historic Wanamaker Building (Macy's Center City department store) were suddenly serenaded by the Opera Company of Philadelphia, together with the Wanamaker pipe organ, the largest operating pipe organ in the world. What a treat!! Thanks Opera Co. of Philadelphia for this "Random Act of Culture"!!!

(Note - I missed the last seconds when my camera battery died; so sorry!)

Update: Thanks to randyp19070 who informed me that it wasn't just the Opera Company of Philadelphia singing. They organized it and several dozen area choirs participated, including the Philadelphia Chorus (Raquel Garcia, director), to the tune of 683 singers! OCP in turn was working with a national organization called the Knight Foundation which is trying to commit 1000 "random acts of culture" nationwide.

Copyright ©2010 Skimmie55. All rights reserved.

Category:

Music

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• 2010 knight foundation

[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!

[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!! 

[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!!!!

[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.

[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.

[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.