Disney animation magic at the Hollywood Bowl
This past weekend, Walt Disney Animation Studios celebrated The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary with a special concert at the iconic Hollywood Bowl. The LA Phil played songs and scores from the Disney music library with performances from special guest stars.
The hosts for the evening were Susan Egan, who voiced Megara in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Hercules” as well as being Broadway’s first Belle in “Beauty and the Beast,” and Adassa who performed the role of Dolores in “Encanto.” Leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic was conductor Thomas Wilkins.
Not only is the Hollywood Bowl the perfect location to celebrate Walt Disney Animation Studios as they’re located less than five miles from each other, but also, Walt Disney himself was a season ticket holder of the Hollywood Bowl. The story goes that Walt first heard Paul Dukas’ musical masterpiece “The Sorcerers Apprentice” while attending a concert at the famed venue, and that initial introduction eventually led to Walt’s animated masterpiece, “Fantasia.”
As part of the evening, the LA Phil played that spectacular score while the Mickey Mouse starring segment from “Fantasia” was projected on the Bowl’s big screen. Considering the evening was a celebration of Walt Disney Animation, these screens were put to great use throughout the evening as beloved imagery and animation accompanied each performance.
Some highlights include a Disney Heroes Medley featuring the reprise of “One Jump Ahead” from “Aladdin,” “Go the Distance” from “Hercules,” “Out There” from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and “Lost in the Woods” from “Frozen 2.” This mashup of heroes music was sung beautifully by Adam J. Levy.
As every Disney fan knows, it’s always a treat to hear the voice actors and singers of favorite Disney characters performing their character’s music live. The audience in attendance got that treat when host Susan Egan performed Megara’s song “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” from “Hercules.” The film may have been released 26 years ago, but Egan’s voice is still on point.
Other singers throughout the evening included James Monroe Iglehart, Shoba Narayan, Anneliese van der Pol, Syndee Winters, and students from the Orange County School of the Arts. With so many talented singers on stage it allowed for numerous songs to be heard in ways they never had been before, with multi-part harmonies.
One example of this was when five voices were heard singing the anthem “Into the Unknown” from “Frozen 2.” Adding the layers of tones with five strong voices gives a completely different feel to a totally familiar tune.
Before Egan presented a number of songs from the masterpiece “Beauty and the Beast,” she had this to say. “The storytelling turned a lot of cliches on their ear. The hero was a beast. The handsome guy, he was the villain. And Belle, she was not a damsel in distress. She was the intellectual center of it all.” As the beloved music floated through the air, a moment was taken to remember the film’s extremely influential lyricist, Howard Ashman.
As much as Disney fans love their heroes, there’s a special place in their hearts for the more villainous characters. What I believe was one of the best musical arrangements of the evening was the villains medley. “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” “Be Prepared,” and “Mother Knows Best” were masterfully woven together for an unforgettable moment of villainy.
There was so much to enjoy throughout, but it would be impossible to feature music from all 100 years of movies. The night’s performers said it best. “We could only touch on a handful of films this evening. But what is universal? Among all these Disney stories is their enduring legacy. Walt Disney wanted to bring people together. And he has.”
The Hollywood Bowl has a full lineup of concerts throughout the summer and into the fall, including “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in Concert, Sing-A-Long “Sound of Music,” and so much more.
