A massive power outage that left parts of New York City in darkness on July 13, 2019 affected several shows, including a performance scheduled at Carnegie Hall by the Millennial Choirs & Orchestras. Rather than canceling and going home, the choir decided to take to the streets outside of Carnegie Hall to put on a show.
Their impromptu performance entertained a growing crowd of people on West 57th Street. Hundreds of people gathered as the choir performed some of their classical pieces.
The choir reflected on their spontaneous performance on social media, “We made the best of the unfortunate situation and performed some of our pieces outside for passersby to enjoy during this stressful time…We feel blessed to have been able to touch many more hearts in an unexpected way from the streets of beautiful New York City.”
The power outage occurred at around 7 p.m. and lasted for about five hours, disrupting traffic and causing subway delays. Manhattan’s Midtown and Upper West Side were in complete darkness, affecting as many as 72,000 customers, according to Con Edison. The blackout occurred 42 years to the day of the 1977 blackout that lasted 25 hours.
Saturday’s performance was set to be the Millennial Choir’s third and final scheduled concert at the venue. The choir proved that in dark times, a little light—and music!—can go a long way.
