Hollywood in Vienna 2022

A Celebration of Disney Classics -  featuring Alan Menken

In 1989, THE LITTLE MERMAID marked Disney’s glorious return to the genre of the grand fairy tale musical. Music was more important than ever for these big screen masterpieces, breathing life into the skillfully animated fairy tale worlds. One name shaped the films of the so-called "Golden 90s" and beyond like no other: Alan Menken.

Besides THE LITTLE MERMAID, the composer wrote scores and songs for the modern Disney classics BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN, POCAHONTAS, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and many more and lend the Disney's dream worlds their unmistakable sound.

The trained Broadway composer later introduced many of his Disney scores to the musical stage with great success. The song "A Whole New World" from ALADDIN is among the most successful songs in film history and topped the billboard charts in the USA for 23 weeks. Just like BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN returned to the big screen as an opulent live-action movie featuring additionally composed songs. Menken’s next project is the live-action film adaptation of THE LITTLE MERMAID, which is currently in pre-production.

Alan Menken is a record-breaker in terms of prizes and awards: he is the only living creative in Hollywood with a total of eight Oscars to his name. Furthermore, he has been decorated with eleven Grammys, a Tony, seven Golden Globes and countless other prestigious awards.

2022 Menken will add a new accolade to his long list of distinctions: At the film music gala HOLLYWOOD IN VIENNA, Alan Menken will receive the »Max Steiner Film Music Achievement Award« by the City of Vienna.

We are delighted to celebrate the magic of the Disney universe with our guest of honor and many top-class interpreters in the festive setting of the Wiener Konzerthaus. Emmy award-winner Michael Kosarin, Alan Menken's long-standing music director, will conduct the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra.