It’s a month till the launch of the most recent nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World, as “Luminous The Symphony of Us” debuts on December 5, 2023 at EPCOT. Now, we’ve a behind the scenes sneak peek on the making of the soundtrack, first hearken to the music, and rundown of films & songs featured within the nighttime spectacular debuting as a part of the Disney100 celebration.
Luminous The Symphony of Us will characteristic dazzling fireworks, fountains, lights and music to attach us all by means of commonalities of the guts. This all-new nighttime spectacular shines a light-weight on how every of our distinctive melodies comes collectively to kind an ideal symphony – the symphony of us.
In accordance with Walt Disney World, Luminous is a dramatic present designed to convey us all collectively. New music, together with evocative alternatives from the Disney songbook, come collectively to remind us that we’re extra alike than we’re completely different. Right here’s the most recent replace from Disney Dwell Leisure on what, precisely, which means and the way it’ll be conveyed within the new nighttime spectacular…
Very like a wonderful piece of music, “Luminous The Symphony of Us” is made up of a sequence of actions, every representing life experiences that we’ve in frequent, displaying us that we’re extra alike than we’re completely different. Punctuating these actions are two unique songs written only for the spectacular, in addition to new preparations of fastidiously chosen Disney songs everyone knows and love.
At the beginning of the present, World Showcase involves life as we hear voices from every pavilion welcoming us to this nice gathering. With the faucet of a conductor’s baton, our first motion begins with the unique tune, “Heartbeat Symphony.” Nothing says EPCOT nighttime spectacular like a sweeping ballad, and this one comes for you proper out of the gate.
Try this behind-the-scenes take a look at among the music recording classes for “Luminous The Symphony of Us,” together with a sneak preview of “Heartbeat Symphony” within the video beneath:
With the stage set, the symphony that’s Luminous takes us to the tender love of parenthood, highlighting childhood moments the place every of our journeys started and that includes a stirring, multilingual association of “You’ll Be in My Coronary heart” from Tarzan. The symphony then transitions to “Proud Corazón” from Coco as we discover our voice in a motion devoted to the bonds of household.
Friendship follows, with basic songs like “You’ve Acquired a Buddy in Me” from Toy Story and “Buddy Like Me” from Aladdin taking us again to the times of recess and friendship bracelets. Set to a sweeping association of “So Shut,” a hidden gem from the film Enchanted, the romance part celebrates the moments after we discover somebody with whom our melody blends.
Inevitably in life, we expertise the quiet loneliness of loss, however as “When She Cherished Me” from Toy Story 2 and “Keep in mind Me” from Coco convey us “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2, the echoes of these round us remind us that we’re by no means actually alone. As we come out of the darkness, the music crescendos to “I See the Gentle” from Tangled, launching Luminous into its finale – and second unique tune, entitled “Beating of our Hearts” – the place all of us come collectively as one and discover our place within the nice symphony of life.
As you may most likely inform, music performs a important position in telling the story of Luminous: The Symphony of Us. That’s why the crew at Disney Dwell Leisure is so excited to work with Pinar Toprak as soon as once more on the present’s unimaginable rating. You could know Pinar from her work on movie soundtracks or heard her EPCOT anthem at evening by Spaceship Earth. Among the many choir of voices lending their vocal skills to the rating are singer/songwriter Sheléa and the multi-talented Katharine McPhee.
Turning to our commentary, and let’s begin on the finish of Walt Disney World’s announcement with the climactic tune, “Beating of Our Hearts.” Properly, that received my coronary heart beating, as that’s a tune in considered one of my all-time favourite Disney Dwell Leisure spectacles, The Legend of Mythica.
For the 99.9% of you who by no means noticed The Legend of Mythica or don’t even know what it was, it was a daytime harbor present at Tokyo DisneySea concerning the relation of the human and legendary worlds, and the way we now dwell in concord after years of battle. It featured Disney characters and over 100 performers to signify the spirit of assorted feelings that bridge the hole between the legendary and human worlds. It was very summary and excessive idea, and had dragons. I might equate The Legend of Mythica to IllumiNations, no less than by way of their fashion and ambitions.
You’ll be able to hearken to that portion of The Legend of Mythica right here:
Now, I’m not suggesting that Disney Dwell Leisure is reusing a tune from a two-decade previous present for Luminous…however it wouldn’t be the primary, second, and even tenth time. This occurs so much, beneath the (appropriate!) assumption that American audiences have by no means heard the music.
Perhaps the tune title is only a coincidence. It’s most likely only a coincidence. But when not, and this can be a musical revival of The Legend of Mythica, that’s wonderful. Oh, and the tune in query can be an ideal match for an EPCOT nighttime spectacular concerning the “commonalities of coronary heart.” Despite the fact that Luminous received’t have any dragons (automated 10/10 present if it does), the tune can be a becoming finale!
It’s solely a sneak peek or first pay attention, however the “Heartbeat Symphony” in Luminous Symphony of Us sounds incredible. Listening to that–even divorced of any in-park context–actually gave me goosebumps. It made me really feel. I don’t need to get forward of myself, however this tune appears like a worthy successor to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
And once more, that’s with out the added emotion of standing in World Showcase, experiencing it in particular person. That provides a complete completely different power and sentimentality and seeds of nostalgia to any Disney music. So the truth that “Heartbeat Symphony” received me whereas sitting at dwelling…that’s very promising!
Oh, and it’s good to as soon as once more see that Steve Davison is concerned. He’s a legend who has created a few of Disney’s finest nighttime spectaculars…and one who I actually thought had retired as a result of we hadn’t heard something from him in a pair years.
My hope for Luminous The Symphony of Us was that it will marry the most effective elements of Harmonious and IllumiNations right into a present with mainstream and diehard EPCOT fan enchantment, whereas discarding the elements that didn’t work or dragged an excessive amount of. (I imply, it’s proper there within the title: IlLumiNations and Harmonious! Properly, it’s proper there in case your spelling is a little bit wobbly, like Winnie the Pooh.)
For the entire hate that Harmonious received, it had its moments and there have been nuggets of nice concepts in it. I’ve already gone on document and stated will develop a cult fan following over time. I’d say that about half of that present was actually, actually robust. It was dragged down by the remainder, plus the water tacos and Stargate. I’d be actually curious to see how it will fee with friends minus the infrastructure and with a slight remix…and thought possibly Luminous can be precisely that.
Luminous nonetheless sounds prefer it is perhaps, however with completely different music and a special message. Nods to IllumiNations are additionally attainable, as these can be a straightforward win and strategy to get hardcore followers on board. However actually, once I learn that description, the primary nighttime spectacular that got here to thoughts is Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland, which was created as a love letter to 100 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
I’m certain Luminous might be very completely different than Wondrous Journeys, however it sounds prefer it may have a equally introspective and contemplative journey, of kinds. To be clear, that could possibly be factor. Wondrous Journeys is incredible, and drawing inspiration from that present, however with extra of a deal with humanity’s interconnectedness and shared story has a whole lot of potential.
I nonetheless don’t love the thought of a bunch of Disney songs in World Showcase and turning EPCOT into Magic Kingdom 2.0 (Wondrous Journeys can also be fairly just like Fortunately Ever After), however this was at all times going to be that to some extent. Walt Disney World was not going to make a correct religious successor to IllumiNations for a lot of causes, however maybe this would be the marriage of motifs from that plus unique and trendy music within the fashion of Harmonious…and hopefully with a splash of The Legend of Mythica. I is perhaps an EPCOT purist, however that proper there appears like a profitable components for me!
In the end, a lot has modified at EPCOT within the final a number of years and it feels counterproductive and downright unreasonable to tug my ft at each change that doesn’t “honor” the legacy of a park that has been gone for two-plus a long time. EPCOT has already gone in a brand new path–the ship has sailed on staying true to its unique mission. At this level, the most effective we will hope for is that the brand new path is a good one which no less than maintains a semblance of its unique spirit. It’s higher than stagnation.
Luminous actually received’t be IllumiNations for me…however hopefully, it’ll be an iterative enchancment on Harmonious (and with out the visible blight). Its music weaving cultures with characters with an enormous message may find yourself working, and making it slot in World Showcase. Above all else, I’m hopeful that Luminous might be an incredible nighttime spectacular that helps revitalize a languishing theme park.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the soundtrack for Luminous? Are you excited for the upcoming EPCOT nighttime spectacular? Assume it’ll be a worthy successor to Harmonious and/or IllumiNations? Ideas on the potential of it remixing music from The Legend of Mythica?! If you happen to’re an EPCOT Heart purist, are you apprehensive that it will match World Showcase? Anticipate it to be a culturally tasteful use of music and imagery from animated movies, or do you suppose it’s inappropriate IP for World Showcase? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!