A night of music and magic.
As a proud Disney fan, I grew up on the classic flicks like Beauty & The Beast, The Lion King, and Aladdin. I became a fan early — and I’ve stayed one, right through to modern classics like Frozen and Moana. And yea, I still belt out every word like the animated cast is depending on me.
So stepping into Disney in Concert at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall, we were ready for a nostalgia hit… but we weren't prepared for just how magical it would be.
We figured we’d get a sweet tribute to Disney tunes with some visuals on the big screen. Instead, we got five powerhouse vocalists, backed by a full orchestra, belting out not just iconic solos but full medleys that felt like being dropped inside your favourite Disney montage.
These five didn’t just sing the hits — they owned the stage:
Amy Manford – Princess vocals on lock (Phantom of the Opera in both London and Australia).
Christine Allado – Effortlessly warm, straight from the West End (Hamilton, In The Heights).
Joshua Robson – Huge voice, huge presence (Phantom again — this guy's got lungs).
Nick Afoa – Simba energy? Makes sense. He’s literally done it in The Lion King in Oz and the West End.
Ruva Ngwenya – Slayed recently as Tina Turner, and honestly, she brought that same power here.
Each one of them had standout moments, but when they all came together for ensemble numbers? Disney magic, no notes.
This concert didn’t just meet expectations — it smashed them.
The opening choir from The Hunchback of Notre Dame gave me literal goosebumps. That deep, powerful swell hit hard and set the tone for the night.
Then the chant from Moana kicked in — and yep, actual tears. Couldn’t help it.
And when they hit that soaring “ahhh-haaa, ahhh-haaa” in Frozen 2’s Show Yourself, Nathan and I looked at each other — both lit up with massive smiles.
With the orchestra in full flight, these songs weren’t just familiar — they were emotional gut-punches in the best possible way.
Here’s just some of what featured across the night — a mix of solos, duets, and sweeping medleys:
And yep, this is just some of it — they covered 13 Disney classics in total, often featuring multiple songs per film.
Disney in Concert didn’t just scratch the nostalgia itch — it went full fairy godmother and transformed the entire hall. The voices were incredible, the orchestra was flawless, and the emotional beats landed harder than expected.
If you’re a Disney fan in any form — old school, new school, or somewhere in between — this show is exactly the kind of joy burst you didn’t know you needed. So next time something like this pops up? Get on it.
Disney in Concert ran at Hamer Hall as part of a short season. For upcoming Disney live events, check out disney.com.au/live-events.
Excuse me now while I go binge-watch Disney classics all weekend.
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