Review by Grace Swadling
Music is one of the most profound things humans have ever created. Music has the ability to hit you right in your core and transcend the need for speaking, instead provoking strong emotional responses we might be otherwise unable to articulate. There are few things that are as magical as sitting and listening to musicians pour their heart and soul into their craft. But sitting in the Sydney Opera House listening to 65 musicians from the world-renowned Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, along with a cast of musical theatre stars perform some of the most beautiful and classic Disney musical numbers? That’s something everyone should experience at least once in their life!
Disney in Concert Live at the Opera House returns to Sydney after its 2023 sold-out run of Disney 100: The Concert and it is back, bigger and better than ever. The concert
features timeless songs from Disney’s rich legacy of animated films including Hercules, Moana, The Little Mermaid, Frozen, The Lion King and Mulan, as well as a special symphonic suite featuring excerpts from Cinderella, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Peter Pan and many
more.
The minute the lights dimmed there was a sense of magic in the air, which was only exacerbated by the thrilling sound of the orchestra tuning. Acclaimed conductor Jessica Gethin was a striking presence on stage and immediately engaged the audience. From the opening notes of the montage of classic Disney pieces, the magic of Disney was alive and well. Joining the concert’s artistic director and soprano Amy Manford on stage to perform these magical Disney moments were some of the world’s brightest theatre stars - Christine Allado, Nick Afoa, Joshua Robson and Ruva Ngwenya.
Nick Afoa oozed charm and charisma in his cheeky rendition of ’You're Welcome’ but also had incredible stage presence all throughout the show. Joshua Robson absolutely shone in his wickedly villainous rendition of ‘Be Prepared.’ However, it was the powerhouse women who truly stole the show. Amy Manford was giving pure Disney princess, wowing the crowd with her incredibly high notes whilst Christine Allado performed with grace and elegance. Ruva Ngwenya’s powerful voice was awe-inspiring and the women’s three-part harmony in “Show Yourself’ which concluded act one was truly a goosebump moment.
There was a decent mix of both adults and children within the crowd - young kids enjoyed the more recognisable Moana and Frozen musicals numbers whilst the orchestra soared during the classics such as Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast to satisfy the most nostalgic of the adults. It was truly heartwarming to see all the kids dressed in their Disney outfits alongside adults in their Disney ears. It was also incredibly poignant to sit and really listen to the messages of these iconic songs. Say what you will about Disney but it was lovely to see so many different cultures and music represented on stage, and the messages of things like ‘bright young women, sick of swimming, ready to stand” and “you think you own whatever land you land on” resonated even more when thinking about the young children in the audience taking it all in.
There was no point during the show in which there wasn’t something exciting to look at; from the orchestra to the choir behind them, to the beautiful performances by the singers and finally the clips, which added another layer to the complexity and beauty of these orchestral arrangements. There were many moments of full body chills throughout the performance; one of the highlights included the orchestra's incredible adaptation of ’Battle with the Forces of Evil’ from Tchaikovsky’s ballet production of Sleeping Beauty. However I can confidently say if you've never heard a full symphony orchestra play “Colours of the Wind’ as they are backed by a full orchestral choir, then you simply have not lived.
Beware though if you are prone to crying or are emotionally affected by Disney, as the orchestra powers through all the emotional juggernauts of your beloved Disney classics with little time to recover! This is truly a family night out; whether it be your chosen family or bringing your kids along to enjoy a magical celebration of beloved classics and newer iconic Disney, allowing audiences of all ages to enjoy a special night out on the town.
