Disney's Encanto Live in Concert in Abu Dhabi

Disney's Encanto Live in Concert is a screening-with-orchestra evening in Abu Dhabi. The animated film about the Madrigal family is shown on screen while an orchestra plays its songs and score live, so the music is performed in the room rather than played back from a soundtrack. The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, an internationally acclaimed ensemble, takes the stage for the performance.

The film comes from Walt Disney Animation Studios and reached many viewers through Disney+. Its songs were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, a songwriter who has won an Academy Award, a Tony and a GRAMMY. Among them is "We Don't Talk About Bruno," which became a viral hit. In concert form the vibrant score and the story's themes of family and culture are carried by a full orchestra, with the film running alongside.

The concert takes place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi's leisure and entertainment district. Yas Island is also home to theme parks, a waterfront promenade, hotels and restaurants, and Etihad Arena is one of the main indoor venues for large concerts and shows in the capital. If you are coming from Dubai, expect a drive of roughly an hour to an hour and a half, depending on traffic and where you set out from.

The event is described as a celebration for Disney fans of all ages, which makes it an easy choice for families, for friends who grew up on animated musicals, and for anyone who likes film scores played live. A film-in-concert evening is a seated experience: you watch the picture, follow the story and listen to the orchestra at the same time. If you already know the songs, hearing them with a symphony orchestra gives them a different scale, and if you have not seen the film, the story is easy to follow on screen.

The Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and the Encanto score make this a good fit for a night out that combines family entertainment with classical musicianship, in one of Abu Dhabi's biggest arenas.