Quad City Symphony Orchestra: "Disney's 'The Lion King' in Concert" at the Adler Theatre -- October 24.
Saturday, October 24, 2 p.m.
Adler Theatre, 136 East Third Street, Davenport IA
One of the greatest animated films of all time will be celebrated by some of the finest musicians in the area when the Quad City Symphony Orchestra presents Disney's The Lion King in Concert, an October 24 event at Davenport's Adler Theatre that finds the iconic score and its unforgettable songs performed live during an HD screening of the 1994 blockbuster.
Disney's story follows a young lion prince named Simba, who is exiled from his kingdom after his father Mufasa is murdered by his uncle Scar to seize the throne. As he grows up, Simba must decide whether to return home to confront Scar and reclaim his place as king. With an initial worldwide gross of $763 million, The Lion King completed its theatrical run as the highest-grossing film of 1994 and the second-highest-grossing film of all time, behind Jurassic Park (1993). It held the title of highest-grossing animated film until it was replaced by Finding Nemo in 2003. The success of the film launched a multibillion-dollar franchise comprising a Broadway adaptation, two direct-to-video follow-ups, two television series, and a photorealistic remake (which itself spawned a prequel), which in 2019 also became the highest-grossing animated film at the time of its release. In 2016, The Lion King was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
You're invited to return to Pride Rock as the Quad City Symphony Orchestra performs Hans Zimmer’s sweeping, Oscar-winning score live to the full 1994 animated film in HD. Featuring beloved songs by Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, along with the powerful African vocal and choral arrangements of South African composer Lebo M, Disney’s The Lion King becomes an immersive musical experience unlike any other. Audiences can witness Simba’s epic coming-of-age journey and relive iconic musical moments including “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Hakuna Matata,” and the Academy Award-winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.” Celebrate this timeless story of courage, destiny, and heart, and see how “everything the light touches” shines even brighter with a live symphony.
Conducting composer Zimmer's unforgettable score and its multitude of songs for the movie's QCSO at presentation is Hisham Bravo Groover, Assistant Conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Quad City Symphony Youth Ensembles. He also serves as Director of Orchestral Studies and Violin instructor at Augustana College. Before moving to the Quad Cities, Groover lived in Minnesota, where he served as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Conductor of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS), Music Director and Conductor of the Buffalo Community Orchestra, and Assistant Conductor of the University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre. Additional experiences include roles as Associate Conductor of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra (CO), Assistant Conductor of the Arapahoe Philharmonic (CO), Assistant Conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre (CO), and Conductor of the University of Iowa Chamber Orchestra (IA).
Groover displays impressive versatility in his concerts, equally at ease with pops and educational programs as he is with masterworks. He has also conducted and assisted in numerous opera productions, including Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus. As a violinist, he studied with several pedagogues, including Michel Boris Zaitzeff, Ching-Yi Lin, and Mark Rush, while as a conductor, he has had the privilege to study with Leonid Grin, Kevin Noe, William LaRue Jones, and his principal mentor, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's Maestro Mark Russell Smith.
Disney's The Lion King in Concert will be performed in Davenport on October 24, admission to the 2 p.m. event is $24-78, tickets are available by calling (800)745-3000 and visiting DavenportLive.com/the-adler-theatre, and more information is available by calling (563)322-7276 and visiting QCSO.org.
