Who is behind the music for ‘Beauty and the Beast’?

In 1991, “Beauty and the Beast”, a Disney animation that adapts the French novel first published in 1740 by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve with a much darker story, and republished years later with a more childish version by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.

The plot follows Bela, a dreamy and sweet young woman passionate about reading who, to ensure that her father does not lose his life, ends up trapped in a castle inhabited by a fearsome Beast who was the victim of a spell and needs to find true and reciprocal love for her. become a prince again.

In addition to the engaging story, throughout the film, the audience is also treated to an impeccable soundtrack — so much so that it was awarded at the 1992 Oscars in the Best Original Score” and “Best Original Song” categories, with “Beauty and the Beast”.

In addition to the renowned “Beauty and the Beast” (“Sentimentos São”, in the Portuguese version), the production also features other iconic songs, such as “Minha Aldeia”, “Seja a Nossa Invidada”, “Gaston”, and much more. .

The production tracks are signed by the duo Alan Menken It is Howard Ashman, who did not have the opportunity to see his finished work. This because Ashmanunfortunately, passed away eight months before the film’s premiere, at the age of 40, due to complications caused by AIDS.

In a statement to the D23 website, the official Disney fan club, Paige O’HaraBela’s voice actress in the original English version, described a little more about what it was like to work with Howard in recording the songs.

“He was able to stay with us for some time in the studio, directing us, with a lot of energy, I mean, incredible energy. Howard could do anything. There were some scenes, I don’t think I was hitting the nail on the head, you know. And at one point he said, ‘Well, do it like this,’ and suddenly he turned into Belle. He could play the Beast or any character.”, said the actress.

O’Hara still remembers that, in her last recording session, the producer asked her to add “a little bit of Barbra Streisand” in the version of “Something There”, the last song he composed for the work. The actress also says that she remembers exactly the last time she spoke to Ashman: through a telephone call at the home Alan Menken.

“I was getting ready to do the press tour singing ‘Beauty and the Beast’ because Angela (Lansbury) didn’t want to sing it; she said, ‘I’d rather Paige do it,’” she recalls. “So Alan took me to his house and taught me ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ I sang and he said, ‘We have to call Howard… He hasn’t really heard anyone singing besides me at this point.’. So we called him and I sang ‘Beauty and the Beast’ to him, and he said, ‘Oh honey, it sounds so good. You look so beautiful!’. And I hung up the phone and looked at Alan and said, ‘I had a very strange feeling.’ And he said: ‘Me too.’. And that happened to be the last time I spoke to Howard.”