Hallelujah Chorus: Flash Mobs and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir [2X Updated]

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an inspiring rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus.  Elliot’s sister Alyssa recently participated in a “flash mob” rendition of the classic Handel piece at the Valencia Town Center mall.  A similar performance tonight at the Roseville Galleria here in Sacramento was shut down by the Roseville fire department and police.  Despite the authorities’ Grinch-like attitude (ok, I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt since the crowd apparently was huge), the singers managed to perform the song in the mall courtyard before being dispersed by the authorities.  What fun!  [UPDATE: Today's Sacramento Bee tells a little more of the story and includes a brief video.  More coverage, including video and pictures, here, here, here, and here.]  These flash mob performances are happening all over – Alabama, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Canada, and who knows where else.  While not entirely spontaneous, these performances revive the true spirit of Christmas, frequently in the place where society so often loses that spirit – in the shopping frenzy at the local mall.  It’s great to see the focus on the Savior during the season of His birth.

Another UPDATE: There's so many of these flash mob videos on YouTube, including in Oklahoma City and Valencia.  Also: Cleveland, Orlando, Seattle, Manchester, CT, Arcadia, CA, Dallas, Toledo, Edmonton, Scottsdale, AZ, Charlotte, NC, and Pleasanton, CA.

For a less spontaneous version of the Hallelujah Chorus, after the Peanuts comic and after the page break you can see a great performance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  Enjoy.