Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo is spearheading an initiative to rejuvenate the iconic Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA — A renowned organ located in one of Philadelphia’s prominent public spaces faced a risk of silence following the closure of Macy’s in the historic Wanamaker Building.
Anthony Roth Costanzo, a pioneering opera artist who took over as the head of Opera Philadelphia last year, is championing the restoration of the Wanamaker Organ, a recognized National Historic Landmark. This instrumental masterpiece features over 28,000 wood and metal pipes concealed behind a magnificent wall of gold-leaf pipes that adorn the building’s seven-story marble atrium.
Backed by $1 million in philanthropic support, Costanzo is arranging a series of public showcases this autumn which will include opera, ballet, theater, and drag performances, prior to the scheduled renovations next year for the building’s transformation into a mixed retail-residential hub. The inaugural event is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7.
During an onsite interview on Thursday evening with The Associated Press, Costanzo shared, “John Wanamaker envisioned this Grand Court as the crossroads of arts and commerce, hence his installation of the world’s largest pipe organ here.” He further expressed, “This space resonates with operatic grandeur, providing the perfect platform to welcome various arts institutions and collaborators.”
The organ was originally crafted for the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Wanamaker, a prosperous entrepreneur and civic figure, relocated it to his new emporium adjacent to City Hall in 1909. He then commissioned a team of 40 pipe artisans to expand the organ so that its harmonies could fill the expansive hall. A decade later, the renowned conductor Leopold Anthony Stokowski conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra before a 15,000-strong audience that filled the grand hall and mezzanines.
With the merchandise now removed, Costanzo noted that the acoustics now rival those of esteemed cathedrals. He remarked, “For the first time, the organ is in optimal cathedral acoustic conditions, offering an unparalleled auditory experience due to the absence of any intervening structures.”
The new owner of the building aims to continue the integration of art and culture into their plans, involving retail spaces on the lower levels and office-residential units above. Introducing the organ presents distinctive challenges.
“While the organ music resonates in the grand atrium, considerations for the upper floors using the space necessitate strategic planning to cater to all parties,” expressed Jon McMillan, a senior executive at TF Cornerstone, a development company based in New York.
Local community groups, in a statement released on Friday, expressed their intent to raise funds to reinstate one of the city’s beloved annual traditions – a holiday light exhibition that has drawn families to the store for generations.
Costanzo, extending his performances globally, envisions kindling a new enthusiasm for the arts by bringing them to communal spaces such as the Wanamaker Building. His aspiration is for this outreach to facilitate connections among individuals.
Reflecting on the significance of Wanamaker, Costanzo remarked, “This venue holds profound sentimental value for Philadelphia. I aim for visitors to encounter novel experiences at Wanamaker, enriching their perspectives.”
