"Flash Opera" at Macy's: Meet You At The Handel
In case you missed Saturday's surprise "Hallelujah Chorus" at Macy's - here's the video.
"Flash Opera" at Macy's: Meet You At The Handel
Peter Dobrin, Inquirer Classical Music Critic
In case you missed Saturday's surprise "Hallelujah Chorus" at Macy's - here's the video.
The central court at Macy's isn't exactly a place where one is surprised to enounter music - it's home of the Wanamaker Organ, after all. But still, it was trememdously moving. It's one thing to hear music, another to hear it on this scale. About 650 singers from area churches, schools and choruses belted out Handel at noon, and there was something about the incredibly present spirit of all that humanity that just sent shivers up your spine.
Almost everyone I spoke with had something to say about the greater significance of bringing music out of the concert hall.
"The arts aren't just a frill, but a part of life," concluded Sandy Smith from the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus, one of 28 groups that participated in the sing-in.
Joanna McNeil Lewis, president of the Academy of Music, was there, and said classical events that can compete for attention in a crowded media world are the future. "It's about creating unusual things to get people's attention," she said.
Wide attention is likely on the way. The event was organized by the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and the last time OCP did this sort of thing, in April, the video drew (as of last count) nearly three million views.
Hard to tell for sure, but some viewers may take the next step and look into what OCP is up to the rest of the year.
WOW!!!— juicy@34
The acoustics there really work for the Hallelujah Chorus...that must have been something to be in the middle of. Thanks for getting the video, Peter!- Like angels singing. Let's get them in the malls during the holidays to share the Christmas spirit.— mab920
- Thank You to all who participated in this.It was uplifting to see the right way to have a flash mob !!— pjv13
- Great idea! It actually sounds really good on the video. The only thing I thought was strange -- OCP sent out an e-blast advertising the event. Not so "random" for the thousands on their email list, but still very cool!— hautgirl
- PS: I attended the Philly Orchestra Saturday night at Verizon. People were chatting about the OCP flash mob in the rush tickets line. That's the kind of word-of-mouth you want to get!— hautgirl
- PS: I attended the Philly Orchestra Saturday night at Verizon. People were chatting about the OCP flash mob in the rush tickets line. That's the kind of word-of-mouth you want to get!— hautgirl
- Any complaints from the anti-religious people?— J H
- Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!
Romans 11:36NIV
God Bless Us Everyone! and God Bless and Preserve Our Nation and Her People!
— gale segunka - That was powerful. Thank you for allowing an inspiring presentation like this to be held to kick off the Holidays even if it seems early. There's no reason we have to reserve music about the Savior for Christmas programs!— theomoon
- Everytime I view one of these operas or dancing I wish so much that I could be present for one. So very, very beautiful and such a great gift to all!!— vitac
- I agree with Mab920- this needs to happen in every mall. This was so beautiful and glorious and if I was there, even though I may not have been from any of those choirs, I would have sang myself hoarse. I would love to arrange something like this in one of our Local malls.
I particularly love that this was praise to the Lord in the very open in a usually secular place glorifying God and His Son Jesus. PRAISE BE TO HIM WHO LIVES FOREVER AND EVER!— Imforeverone - Wow. It's the first time I've been moved to tears this holiday season! Loved it!— Dharma G
- Beautiful, thank you!!— EAvila
Peter Dobrin is a classical music critic and culture writer for The Inquirer. Since 1989, he has written music reviews, features, news and commentary for the paper, covering such topics as the Philadelphia Museum of Art at the Venice Biennale, expansion of the Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra's bankruptcy declaration in 2011, Philadelphia's evolving performing arts center and the general health of arts and culture.
Dobrin was a French horn player. He earned an undergraduate degree in performance from the University of Miami, and received a master's degree in music criticism from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with Elliott Galkin. He has no time to practice today.
