It’s time to don your Mickey Mouse ears and head to the nation’s capital this weekend for a magical musical experience.
The prestigious National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) will present “Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic” at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23. This special event marks the centennial of The Walt Disney Company, founded on October 16, 1923.
A Symphony of Disney Magic
“This concert celebrates Disney’s 100 years of animation,” conductor Christopher Dragon told WTOP. “It’s incredible to think of the legacy this company has on everybody’s lives. Even grandparents today have grown up listening to Disney’s music, so it’s a company we’ve all grown up with and I’m thrilled to be performing the music.”
Audiences will be treated to a visual and auditory feast, with a montage of Disney animation projected on a giant screen as the NSO performs scores from 26 iconic films. Dragon emphasizes the unique experience of live orchestral music. “Nothing can compare to hearing an 80- or 90-piece orchestra play the music live. Experiencing the musicians playing this music and feeling the vibrations hit your skin … there is nothing that can recreate it. … To experience it live really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, especially for any kids that haven’t been to a symphony concert before. This is a perfect way of introducing them to what an orchestra actually is.”
A Century of Timeless Tunes
The concert’s set list spans the full range of Disney’s musical legacy. It includes the archetypal princess classics of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937), “Cinderella” (1950), and “Sleeping Beauty” (1959). Early Disney masterpieces such as “Pinocchio” (1940), “Fantasia” (1940), “Dumbo” (1941), and “Bambi” (1942) will also be featured.
Mid-20th century favorites like “The Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book” (1967) and “You Can Fly” from “Peter Pan” (1953) will bring nostalgia to many. Millennials will enjoy tunes from the Disney Renaissance era, including “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), “Aladdin” (1992), and “The Lion King” (1994). “I’m a kid from the ’90s, so this to me is the Golden Age of Disney, this was basically my childhood,” Dragon said, highlighting a few favorites. “Of course from ‘Aladdin’ we have ‘A Whole New World,’ a song that has stood the test of time.”
Modern Hits for New Generations
The concert will also feature songs beloved by today’s Gen Z kids and their parents, including hits from “Frozen” (2013), “Moana” (2016), and “Encanto” (2021). “I don’t think it would be possible to do this concert without music from ‘Frozen,’” Dragon remarked. “All parents are going to know this movie because of their kids.”
Tickets for this enchanting event range from $39 to $99, offering an accessible opportunity for families and Disney fans of all ages to experience the magic of Disney’s music live with the National Symphony Orchestra.