This Saturday, March 22, a series of hourly recitals by a lineup of organists will mark the end of the Macy’s era for the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, writes Peter Dobrin for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The retailer will close its store in Center City after almost two decades at the end of the business day on Sunday, March 23.
Peter Richard Conte, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organist for the last 36 years, will be joined by a group of organists, all performing free recitals from 9 AM to around 6:30 PM.
What will happen to the Wanamaker Organ after the store closes remains unknown. The iconic instrument has been a fixture of Philadelphia’s musical life for decades, offering visitors twice-daily recitals six days a week.
TF Cornerstone, owner of part of the Wanamaker Building and expected to soon acquire the rest, said it plans on keeping the massive instrument, whose components are scattered throughout the building.
“We are committed to the preservation of the organ and ensuring it remains a cherished part of the space,” said the company in January.
However, it is unclear whether that means the instrument will be played regularly.
Read more about the Wanamaker Organ and Macy’s imminent closure in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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