Opera Philadelphia Shows to Return to Wanamaker Building

Opera Philadelphia is moving forward with plans to activate the now-vacant Macy's department store space in Philadelphia's Wanamaker Building for musical performances. These plans are continuing despite delays caused by an intervention from the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I).

A performance series, Pipe Up!, launched in September with a sold-out organ concert, "Meet Me at the Eagle," and a cabaret series, "The Layaway." According to WHYY, the cabaret was forced to halt after its first two performances when L&I discovered the building was overdue on several certifications, including those for sprinklers, elevators, and escalators. 

Regardless of these setbacks, General Director and President Anthony Roth Costanzo said concerts should resume in the Grand Court by the end of October.

When performances return, audience members can expect collaborations with Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square. Wanamaker principal organist Peter Richard Conte will perform with singers from the Opera Philadelphia chorus at the Longwood Conservatory and the Wanamaker Grand Court. The concert at Longwood Gardens is scheduled for Oct. 23. A date for the Wanamaker Building concert is to be determined.

This programming series will also feature performances by opera tenor Lawrence Brownlee and composer-in-residence Nathalie Joachim.

The success of recent programs, including the sold-out "Meet Me at the Eagle" organ concert, demonstrates strong public interest and enthusiasm for cultural performances in the historic Wanamaker Building.

“Now, we're operating more like an underground club, or a pop-up, or a speakeasy,” Costanzo said in a statement shared with WHYY. “There's a certain energy and fun to inviting people to something and letting them enjoy it. To give them spontaneous access to it has a certain vibrancy that I think is very connected to the energy in Center City.”