November 16, 2010
Video: Opera Company of Philadelphia Surprises Macy’s Shoppers With 650 Singers in Pop-Up, Hallelujah Chorus
On Saturday, October 30th, the Opera Company of Philadelphia partnered with Macy’s and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to produce one of the Knight Foundation’s “Random Acts of Culture” on a grand scale in Philadelphia.
With the Opera Company of Philadelphia as a core, over 650 singers from area choirs, accompanied by the famed Wanamaker Organ — the world’s largest pipe organ — surprised shoppers at the Center City Macy’s with a spontaneous rendition of the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah. The performers were clad in plain clothes among the crowds, fulfilling the “Random Acts of Culture” initiative’s aim to bring classical artists out of performance halls into the streets.
Since debuting a few weeks ago, the above video has received a staggering 2.7 million views worldwide on YouTube.
Random Acts of Culture [Knight Foundation]












(5 responses)
November 16, 2010, 10:26 am
Joey says:
here you go
November 16, 2010, 10:26 am
Ingrid says:
I loved this! Good for them and hope to see some locally.
November 16, 2010, 10:26 am
Dee says:
With tears in my eyes for our nation I just say thanks and awesome.
November 16, 2010, 10:26 am
Jean says:
Awesome! Gave me goosebumps seeing the reaction of the crowd and made me so proud to be a free American!
November 16, 2010, 10:26 am
j. kane says:
Wonderful, amazing, beautiful
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