It was at once a charming multi-cultural experience with an ugly underbelly. Taking mostly well known songs from Disney films, the expectations were turned upside down as each was presented in the native languages represented by the cultures in the source material. From Moana to Coco, Lion King to Mulan, and just about everything in between, the music swelled and the vocal performances excelled. It was lovely and rich while presenting the now expected new century focus on self-discovery. There's no connective tissue, however, leaving it an odd "Greatest Hits" feel.
Where did the show fail? Where was it a disaster? Largely, the misfires were in the use and form of the large metal barges and humongous, just monstrous, ugly metal center ring. The swinging arms added little to the presentation. The projected video elements seemed almost unnecessary. For a generation glued to screens, it was a necessity, but they certainly came at a cost.
Harmonious is a show worth watching. The large tapestry of nations represented is fitting to World Showcase (and whatever world you happen to be in while at the park). The international flare has its charms, even if little use was made of the architecture of the national pavilions.
The goodbye exhortation by a young woman who seemed much too emotionally young to have real wisdom was odd at best. The overall lighting and fireworks were quite nice- but for all its strengths, none of the show- not a single bit- came close to being worth the dismantling of what was once a beautiful day or night time view of the most lovely of Disney parks.
That, my friends is absolutely unforgivable and is the disaster part of the Harmonious equation.
The official Disney video of the show:
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