Last week, opera singers from The Opera Company of Philadelphia surprised Philadelphia commuters with a performance from the opera Carmen.

Opera singers boarded local trains and performed the aria “Habanera” to surprised commuters on the SEPTA rail lines. The Philadelphia Inquirer covered the event.

Some 504 Knight-funded Random Acts of Culture have taken place so far in eight communities across the United States. Dennis Scholl, vice president/arts at Knight Foundation, describes why Knight launched the Random Acts of Culture program:

“We strongly believe in the potential of the arts to engage residents, and bring a community together. Hearing Handel, or seeing the tango in an unexpected place provides a deeply felt reminder of how the classics can enrich our lives. As you’ll see in our videos, the performances make people smile, dance, grab their cameras – even cry with joy. For those brief moments, people going along in their everyday lives are part of a shared, communal experience that makes their community a more vibrant place to live.”