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According to their information published on the link they Opera Company was 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.
What I thought was so cool about it was the choice of the song, the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel. This is a Christian song but because of it's place in history is viewed by many as a piece of art rather than for the literal meaning in the words. Either way, was is SO incredible to me is that ALL these people are joining in together to sing praises to MY God and King. That is REALLY something to shout, "Hallelujah" about! See, every knee will bow one day and every mouth will confess Jesus Christ as Lord! What a great musical picture this was of that day to come. Be blessed and sit back and watch people join in as they sing praises to Christ! Amen and Hallelujah!
