Saturday, December 04, 2010

Spontaneous culture

On 30 October 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers to perform a "Random Act of Culture" at the Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the 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 communities to enrich peoples' lives.

Thanks to our good friend Taz for the tip. Don't you wish you could have seen and heard that live?

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