Distinguished and Disney

Topaz ensemble takes the stage at Blueprint Ensemble Arts on Saturday, November 7, for a choir concert called Distinguished and Disney. The show splits itself right down the middle, moving from classical standards in the first half to Disney favorites in the second.

The first half is the "distinguished" side of the title. Topaz ensemble performs a mix of classic and modern choral works: Purcell's Hear My Prayer, Gjeilo's Sancus, Allegri's Miserere Mei, Deus, and Mealor's Locus Iste. It's a program that pulls from different eras, with the older pieces sitting alongside more contemporary choral writing.

Then the second half shifts into the Disney half, and it's a different kind of performance. This part is fully choreographed, with new arrangements of songs from The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Anastasia, Aladdin, Frozen, and Mulan. There's even a mashup that brings together songs from five different films. The organizers describe the whole thing as a solemn yet magic-making good time.

It's one of Blueprint's organization-sponsored shows, with support from KARMA. Doors open at 6:20 PM, with the show starting at 7:07 PM. Admission is free, with entry at the door and open seating. You'll find them at 5830 NE Alameda Street, Portland, OR 97213.