Ever thought about how spine-tingling the sound of a choir singing “Hallelujah” would be?
Now, amplify that feeling by imagining 1,500 voices harmonizing together.
To top it off, the renowned Rufus Wainwright led this breathtaking performance, leaving many viewers teary-eyed.
The masterminds behind this musical marvel are Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, the founders of Choir! Choir! Choir!
This unique initiative began in 2011 as a simple “weekly drop-in singing event.”
Fast forward to today, and they’re not only hosting regular events in Toronto but also touring internationally.
Their YouTube channel boasts over 73 million views, a testament to their global appeal.
The essence of Choir! Choir! Choir! is beautifully encapsulated on their website.
“Equal parts singing, comedy, and community-building, the duo now travel around the world to bring friends, foes, and strangers together to sing the greatest songs of all time. All you have to do is show up and they’ll teach you your parts!”
Their performances are versatile, taking place in various venues and covering a plethora of songs.
From a gathering of 1,999 vocalists at Massey Hall singing “When Doves Cry” in honor of Prince to renditions of hits by Cher, Katy Perry, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, ABBA, Michael Jackson, and more, every performance is a heartwarming spectacle.
One of their most iconic moments was when 1,500 individuals convened at the Hearn Generating Station to belt out Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
This particular video has garnered over 13 million views.
The cherry on top?
Rufus Wainwright, who has previously covered “Hallelujah” for the movie Shrek, was invited to lead the ensemble.
The video showcases Wainwright, accompanied by 1,500 backup singers, serenading to the gentle strumming of a guitar.
The collective resonance of their voices is nothing short of electrifying.
But it’s not just about the sound; the visuals of diverse individuals, from varying age groups and backgrounds, united by the sheer power of music, add a layer of depth to the experience.
It’s hard not to get emotional watching this.
The intertwining of Wainwright’s voice with the choir’s harmonies creates an atmosphere brimming with passion, evident in every face in the room.
During this performance, Choir! Choir! Choir! founders, affectionately termed “DaBu,” were present on stage.
Daveed strummed the guitar while Nobu took on the role of conductor.
They had previously coached the participants on the backup parts before introducing Wainwright as the lead vocalist.
This memorable event wasn’t just special for the audience and participants; Wainwright himself expressed on Twitter that singing with the 1,500 vocalists felt “pretty unreal.”
The impact of this performance is evident in the comments from viewers.
One person wrote:
“This took my breath away and I couldn’t help but cry at the beauty of it.”
Someone else commented:
“I can’t stop watching this. I have always loved this song but it has so much more meaning right now with everything going on in the world.”
You can watch this soul-lifting performance in the video below!
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