25/07/2026
On Saturday afternoon, September 12, in the Pathways Presbyterian Church, the Renaissance Singers will perform, amongst other show tunes, the score of the 1996 Disney animated version of Victor Hugo's Hunchback of Notre Dame. The novel, originally written in 1831, was intended to highlight the decrepit state of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Hugo's intentions were realised when considerable refurbishment took place in the latter half of the nineteenth century, and, again, subsequent to the more recent disastrous fire. The dire plot and Thomas Hardy-like deterministic outlook, together with the romanticising of the characters and their prejudices, set the scene for much novel writing following the book's publication. That the gentle hero and heroine were swapped at birth and still suffered awful fates, demonstrated Hugo's belief that the society of the time was unjust.
The 1996 animated musical skirts over much of the darker side of the then Parisian life, while emphasising the inherent goodness in the principal characters, drawing the audience into a recognition of circumstances and their effect. The music has a romantic feel, fueling empathy. The harmonies emphasise that, promoting hope rather than anguish, making the piece rather more romantic and satisfying. The songs and score overall were well written – the movie was well received, very popular and a financial success story. The Renaissance Singers' performance will assuredly be well enjoyed, too.
