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In the cooler climes of Park City, film clips from "Aladdin" and "Tangled" will stream against a starlit night as the Utah Symphony plays classics from the animated films so many have grown to love.
"It's Disney, how can you go wrong?" said Jerry Steichen, who will conduct the orchestra Friday, Aug. 1, at its Deer Valley Music Festival performance "Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time."
The evening will feature the orchestra and four singers — Anthony Apicella, Terron Brooks, Juliana Hansen and Arielle Jacobs — as they perform numbers from the Disney songbook, ranging from songs from the smash hit "Frozen" to a 1935 animated short of Mickey Mouse in "The Band Concert," set to Rossini's "William Tell" Overture.
"The exciting thing to me is that we get all the film clips in addition to the original orchestration, played live by the Utah Symphony, sung by four incredibly talented singers. That's totally fun, right?" said Steichen, whose usual infectious enthusiasm only promises to add to the lighthearted joy of the evening.
While the songs provide the backdrop to child's play, bringing them to life is far more difficult. Disney traditionally hires classically trained composers who provide challenges to the musicians who play their work, Steichen said.
"One of the reasons why their soundtracks are so incredible is the orchestrations are really challenging and fun to play," he said.
Steichen said he loves to work with singers during symphony performances because he grew up in the opera house and musical theater.
His personal challenge as conductor is not only making sure the orchestra and singers are pacing with each other, but that everyone also is in sync with the footage that will be playing live behind them.
His favorite films that will be featured Friday include "Tangled" and "Frozen," and he's looking forward to playing music from films he's not as familiar with, such as "Hercules" and "The Princess and the Frog." The concert offers a different selection from previous Disney concerts the symphony has performed, he added.
Steichen calls the evening the most family-friendly concert of the season, and he hopes to see Disney fans of all ages there.
"The videos are so beautiful," he said. "You have 'Cinderella' and 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Sleeping Beauty.' It's beautiful film and beautiful music."
Twitter: @sheena5427 —
Disney in Concert: Tale as Old as Time
The Utah Symphony and four singers bring songs from animated favorites to life.
When • Friday, Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m.
Where • Deer Valley Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater, 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City
Tickets • $69 for reserved seating; GA tickets are sold out; http://www.arttix.com