“Luminous: The Symphony of Us” is a new nighttime spectacular coming to EPCOT at Walt Disney World, and Disney has released a behind-the-scenes look at some of the music recording sessions for it, including a sneak preview of a song called “Heartbeat Symphony.”
The Details
Set to debut at EPCOT on December 5, 2023 (which also happens to be Walt Disney’s birthday), “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” Disney says this new nighttime spectacular will feature dazzling fireworks, fountains, lights, and music in an all-new show that shines a light on how each of our unique melodies come together to form a great symphony – the symphony of us.
At the start of the show, World Showcase will come to life as guests will hear voices from each pavilion welcoming everyone to this great gathering.
With the tap of a conductor’s baton, the first movement begins with “Heartbeat Symphony,” one of two original songs written for the show, that will be mixed into new arrangements of carefully selected Disney songs everyone knows and loves.
The show is created as a series of movements, each representing life experiences that we have in common, showing us that we’re more alike than we are different, according to Disney.
These movements take those present to the tender love of parenthood, highlighting childhood moments where each of our journeys began, and featuring a stirring, multilingual arrangement of “You’ll Be in My Heart.”
The symphony then transitions to “Proud Corazón” as we find our voice in a movement dedicated to the bonds of family.
Friendship follows, with classic songs like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and “Friend Like Me” taking us back, followed by a sweeping arrangement of “So Close,” from Disney’s “Enchanted,” where the romance movement celebrates the moments when we find someone with whom our melody blends.
And though we may experience the quiet loneliness of loss, songs such as “When She Loved Me” and “Remember Me” bring us “Into the Unknown,” and the echoes of those around us remind us that we’re never truly alone.
Coming out of the darkness, the music crescendos to “I See the Light” from “Tangled,” launching the show into its finale, the second original song, entitled “Beating of our Hearts,” where everyone comes together as one, and finds our place in the great symphony of life.
Behind-The-Scenes
Since music plays such an important role in “Luminous: The Story of Us,” Disney Live Entertainment is working with Pinar Toprak on the show’s incredible score. Toprak also wrote the EPCOT anthem guests hear at night by Spaceship Earth, and has composed for films such as “Captain Marvel.”
Among the choir of voices lending their vocal talents to the score are singer/songwriter Sheléa, and singer/actress Katharine McPhee.
Take a look: