Sunday 1 August 2010

We Could Do With This Here

On Saturday, April 24, 2010, over 30 members of the Opera Company of Philadelphia Chorus and principal cast members of LaTraviata converged on the Reading Terminal Market Italian Festival. Wearing street clothes and blending in with the crowd, the artists swung into action as the first orchestral strains of the famed "Brindisi" were piped through the market, giving a rousing, surprise performance for hundreds of delighted onlookers who were there to enjoy the Italian delicacies and the everyday treats that the Reading Terminal Market has to offer.

The four-minute piece drew an overwhelming crowd, and won a thunderous ovation that included both laughter and tears from the audience.

17 comments:

RMcGeddon said...

That was a good tune for someone nursing a hangover ;)
I wondered if 'Brindisi' was related to the town in Italy where I spent many a drunken time en route to Cyprus a few years ago.
Wiki says ' A brindisi is a song in which a company is exhorted to drink.'
Quite relevant we used to drink our stopovers away in the nearest bar and sing to the amusement of the locals.

Quiet_Man said...

Simply breathtaking

Conan the Librarian™ said...

Brilliant.

Now, if they had done Led Zep...

Demetrius said...

In our town we get the First Act of Rigoletto every Saturday night in the High Street. As for our local Sparafucile lads........

Dramfineday said...

Brilliant!

Macheath said...

Thank you! Great fun and a real delight to watch.

Joe Public said...

About 3 years ago, my family, I the rest of the customers were "Opera'd" at Starbucks in Bluewater Shopping Centre, Kent.

An amazing experience.

So seemingly 'out of place', yet such a wonderful performance, enjoyed by all inc the local 'chavs' etc.

Jim Baxter said...

Scottish Opera have been known, in recent times, to take to the streets of Glasgow and belt out Rossini and Mozart from up a close.

subrosa said...

As far as I understand it from the opera that's exactly what it is RM.

So pleased to know your singing was appreciated by locals. Sometimes locals are quite extraordinarily kind. :)

subrosa said...

Super, eh QM.

subrosa said...

Auch Conan, I jist cannae please ye at aw' :)

subrosa said...

Ha ha Demetrius, here too but it's not quite synchronised here. We have our share of the Sparafucile lads too. Fortunately there are few scenas drammaticas.

subrosa said...

My pleasure Dram. So pleased you enjoyed it.

subrosa said...

Could we do that in this country Macheath? I think so. We have some super amateur operatic societies.

subrosa said...

Joe, I'd have loved that. Mind you, Bluewater is massive but if they stuck to the one area it would have been fine.

Quite a shock to the 'chavs' system I would think - but a pleasant one.

subrosa said...

Jim, I wish they'd come and do that in Perth. No, I wish they'd come and do it in the likes of McEwens or M & S in Perth. Larger audience.

CrazyDaisy said...

My fave Opera, thank you x :)

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