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Random Acts of Culture strikes Philadelphia Macy’s

Every once in a while it’s nice to shake things up. So instead of writing about travel today, I’m going to share with you a surprise concert that took place at the Macy’s department store in Philadelphia.

On Oct. 30, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation’s Random Acts of Culture at the store.

Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ — the world’s largest pipe organ — the OCP chorus and singers from the community posed as shoppers all over the store. At the strike of noon they burst into a pop-up rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” What a treat the rest of Macy’s shoppers got!

When I saw this video it brought back wonderful memories of walking under the big eagle in the department store (it was called Wanamaker’s then) with my mother on Wednesday evenings. That was the day we would take the trolley car to “town” and go shopping.

There was a Barton’s candy counter inside one of the entrances to the store, where my mother would buy almond kisses that we would eat with delight. We would always eat the whole bag before we reached home.

My dad, a Holocaust survivor who was frugal due to the incredible deprivation he endured, didn’t think spending so much money on premium candy was for us. So we ate the evidence before he could find out!

Anyone visiting Philadelphia will want to pass under the eagle in Macy’s. It’s as much a part of the history of our lovely city as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Betsy Ross’s House. But I don’t want to promise any concerts, so listen to this incredible clip.

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