Fantasia 2000 (soundtrack)

Last updated
Fantasia 2000: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack
Fantasia 2000 soundtrack album cover.png
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
ReleasedNovember 30, 1999 (1999-11-30)
Recorded1993–1996, 1999
Studio AIR Studios, London
Medinah Temple, Chicago
Genre Classical
Length1:00:00
Label Walt Disney (United States)
Sony Classical (Worldwide)
Producer Chris Montan
Walt Disney Animation Studios chronology
Tarzan
(1999)		Fantasia 2000
(1999)		 Dinosaur
(2000)

Fantasia 2000: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack is the soundtrack to Fantasia 2000 , a sequel to the animated anthology film Fantasia (1940). It features eight individual score suites for each segment and were named after the same title of these segments that are set to pieces of classical music. James Levine conducted six of the tracks from the film, which are performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, while the rest of the two tracks (The Sorcerer's Apperentice, originally from the 1940 film, and Rhapsody in Blue) were originally conducted by Bruce Broughton for the film and were conducted by Levine for the soundtrack. The track was performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. The album, released on November 30, 1999 by Walt Disney Records and Sony Classical Records, went on to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Top Classical Albums chart in July 2000. [1]

Contents

Background

Walt Disney initially planned to have Fantasia on continual release, replacing older classical segments featured in the film, with newer ones so that audiences would never see the same film twice, but was dropped following its box office failure and mixed critical response, with preliminary work on new segments were halted. [2] After late-1980s, the sequel for the film was revived shortly after Michael Eisner became chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company in 1984, when Walt's nephew, vice chairman Roy E. Disney, suggested it to him at a lunch. [3] [4] Disney once asked André Previn to work on a Fantasia film but Previn declined after he learned it was to feature songs by the Beatles rather than classical music, [5] whereas Eisner approached Leonard Bernstein with the same idea, but while he seemed enthusiastic, Bernstein died before production began. [6] After the 1990 reissue of the film became success, and record pre-orders for the film's home video in 1991, [7] Eisner greenlit the sequel for the film following public interest in the franchise. [8] [9] Disney and Walt Disney Feature Animation president Thomas Schumacher invited Metropolitan Opera conductor James Levine and manager Peter Gelb to a meeting in September 1991, following search of a suitable conductor. [10] Disney recalled: "I asked James what his thought was on a three minute version of Beethoven's fifth symphony. He paused and went 'I think the right three minutes would be beautiful'". [11]

Recording

The music to The Sorcerer's Apprentice was already recorded on January 9, 1938, for the first film at Culver Studios, California with Leopold Stokowski conducting a group of session musicians. [12] The Disney engineers collaborated with RCA Corporation for using multiple audio channels which allowed any desired dynamic balance to be achieved upon playback, and the stage was altered acoustically with double plywood semi-circular partitions that separated the orchestra into five sections to increase reverberation. [13] Though as the production of Fantasia developed, the setup used for The Sorcerer's Apprentice was abandoned for different multi-channel recording arrangements. [13] The recording of Rhapsody in Blue used in the film is an edited version of Ferde Grofé's orchestration of the piece performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Bruce Broughton. The shortened version was made by cutting 125 bars of piano solo in three different places. [14] A recording of James Levine conducting both pieces with the Philharmonia appears on the film's soundtrack. [15]

The remaining six pieces were recorded at the Medinah Temple in Chicago, performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Levine. [16] Pines of Rome was re-arranged in 1993 by Bruce Coughlin, who reduced the four-movement piece by cutting the second movement and trimming sections of the third and fourth movements. The piece was recorded on March 28, 1994. [17] The second recording involved Symphony No. 5, Carnival of the Animals, and Pomp and Circumstance, on April 25, 1994. [17] Carnival of the Animals, Finale uses two pianos played by Gail Niwa and Philip Sabransky. Pomp and Circumstance was arranged by Peter Schickele and features the Chicago Symphony Chorus and soprano soloist Kathleen Battle. [18] The next recording took place on April 24, 1995, for Piano Concerto No. 2 with pianist Yefim Bronfman. [17] On September 28, 1996, The Firebird was the final piece to be recorded; its session lasted for three hours. [17] The piece was arranged using four sections from Stravinsky's 1919 revision of the score.

Release history

Walt Disney Records released 60,000 copies of a limited edition of the film's soundtrack on November 30, 1999, in the United States and internationally under the Sony Classical label. [19] With a running time of 60 minutes, the album features Levine conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra on Rhapsody in Blue and The Sorcerer's Apprentice at AIR Studios in London, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the remaining six tracks using the recordings from the Medinah Temple. [20] The album was also released in digipak CDs, MiniDiscs and cassettes. [21] A Fantasia 2000 Deluxe Read-Along cassette and CD followed which contains two tracks telling the stories of Pomp and Circumstance and The Sorcerer's Apprentice, with narration by Pat Carroll. Included in the set is a 44-page book containing some of the film's artwork. [22]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Symphony No. 5"2:51
2."Pines of Rome"10:18
3."Rhapsody in Blue"12:32
4."Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102"7:22
5."Carnival of the Animals (Le Carnaval des Animaux), Finale"1:54
6."The Sorcerer's Apprentice"9:33
7."Pomp and Circumstance, Marches No. 1, 2, 3, & 4"6:18
8."Firebird Suite—1919 Version"9:11
Total length:60:00

Reception

Critical response

Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue", Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance" are "among the album's many high points", while works of classical composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Camille Saint-Saëns and Ludwig van Beethoven "round out this classic, inspiring collection". [23] Music critic John Herzog gave 5/5 saying "To Walt Disney, Fantasia is an ongoing thing, being updated every few years. With Fantasia 2000, the Disney animators have chosen some quality pieces of music. Let's hope that with the next Fantasia films to come, Disney will be able to use such wonderful cues as are to be found on the Fantasia 2000 album." [20]

Accolades

Fantasia 2000's soundtrack received nomination for the Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media at the 43rd Grammy Awards held in 2001. [24] The award was lost to the soundtrack of Almost Famous (2000). [24]

Charts

Chart (2000)Peak

position

Classical Albums (Billboard) [1] 18

Credits

Credits adapted from CD liner notes: [21] [ unreliable source? ]

SegmentPersonnel
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, I. Allegro con brio
Pines of Rome
Rhapsody in Blue
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Allegro, Op. 102
The Carnival of the Animals (Le Carnival des Animaux), Finale
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1, 2, 3 and 4
Firebird Suite – 1919 Version

Related Research Articles

The Pomp and Circumstance Marches are a series of five marches for orchestra composed by Edward Elgar, together with a sixth march created from sketches. The marches were dedicated to his friends including composer Granville Bantock and organists George Robertson Sinclair, Ivor Atkins and Percy Hull.

<i>Fantasia</i> (1940 film) 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney

Fantasia is a 1940 American animated musical anthology film produced by Walt Disney Productions, with story direction by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer and production supervision by Walt Disney and Ben Sharpsteen. It consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Music critic and composer Deems Taylor acts as the film's Master of Ceremonies who introduces each segment in live action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Symphony Orchestra</span> Orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891, the ensemble has been based in the Symphony Center since 1904 and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. Klaus Mäkelä was named music director-designate in 2024, with his first contractual season to begin in 2027. The orchestra's most recent music director is Riccardo Muti, whose tenure spanned the seasons from 2010 to 2023, and he continues to perform on occasion as director-emeritus. The CSO is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five".

<i>Rhapsody in Blue</i> 1924 composition by George Gershwin

Rhapsody in Blue is a 1924 musical composition for solo piano and jazz band by George Gershwin. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the work combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects and premiered in a concert titled "An Experiment in Modern Music" on February 12, 1924, in Aeolian Hall, New York City. Whiteman's band performed the rhapsody with Gershwin playing the piano. Whiteman's arranger Ferde Grofé orchestrated the rhapsody several times, including the 1924 original scoring, the 1926 pit orchestra scoring, and the 1942 symphonic scoring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vladimir Ashkenazy</span> Icelandic pianist and conductor from Russia

Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy is a Soviet-born Icelandic pianist, chamber music performer, and conductor. Ashkenazy has collaborated with well-known orchestras and soloists. In addition, he has recorded a large repertoire of classical and romantic works. His recordings have earned him seven Grammy Awards and Iceland's Order of the Falcon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles Philharmonic</span> Orchestra in Los Angeles, California

The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. The orchestra holds a regular concert season from October until June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July until September. Gustavo Dudamel is the current Musical Director, while Esa-Pekka Salonen serves as Conductor Laureate, Zubin Mehta as Conductor Emeritus, and Susanna Mälkki as Principal Guest Conductor. John Adams is the orchestra’s current Composer-in-Residence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philharmonia Orchestra</span> Orchestra based in London

The Philharmonia Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, a classical music record producer for EMI. Among the conductors who worked with the orchestra in its early years were Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Furtwängler and Arturo Toscanini; of the Philharmonia's younger conductors, the most important to its development was Herbert von Karajan who, though never formally chief conductor, was closely associated with the orchestra in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The Philharmonia became widely regarded as the finest of London's five symphony orchestras in its first two decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leopold Stokowski</span> British-born American conductor (1882–1977)

Leopold Anthony Stokowski was a British-born American conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He was especially noted for his free-hand conducting style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from the orchestras he directed.

The 19th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 19, 1977, and were broadcast live on American television (CBS). It was the seventh and final year Andy Williams hosted the telecast. The ceremony recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1976.

The 2nd Annual Grammy Awards were held on November 29, 1959, at Los Angeles and New York. They recognized musical accomplishments by performers for the year 1959. Hosted by Meredith Willson, this marked the first televised Grammy Award ceremony, and it was aired in episodes as special Sunday Showcase. It was held in the same year as the first Grammy Awards in 1959, and no award ceremony was held in 1960. These awards recognized musical accomplishments by performers for that particular year. Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington each won three awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esa-Pekka Salonen</span> Finnish conductor and composer (born 1958)

Esa-Pekka Salonen is a Finnish conductor and composer. He is the music director of the San Francisco Symphony and conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra in London and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, he announced his resignation from the San Francisco Symphony upon the expiration of his contract in 2025.

Fantasound was a sound reproduction system developed by engineers of Walt Disney studios and RCA for Walt Disney's animated film Fantasia, the first commercial film released in stereo.

<i>Fantasia 2000</i> 1999 animated film by Walt Disney Feature Animation

Fantasia 2000 is a 1999 American animated musical anthology film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation. Produced by Roy E. Disney and Donald W. Ernst, it is the sequel to Disney's 1940 animated feature film Fantasia. Like its predecessor, Fantasia 2000 consists of animated segments set to pieces of classical music. Segments are introduced by celebrities including Steve Martin, Itzhak Perlman, Quincy Jones, Bette Midler, James Earl Jones, Penn & Teller, James Levine, and Angela Lansbury in live action scenes directed by Don Hahn.

Ralph Vaughan Williams dedicated his Symphony No. 4 in F minor to Arnold Bax.

<i>Crown Imperial</i> (march) 1937 Orchestral March by William Walton

Crown Imperial is an orchestral march by William Walton, commissioned for the coronation of King George VI in Westminster Abbey in 1937. It is in the Pomp and Circumstance tradition, with a brisk opening contrasting with a broad middle section, leading to a resounding conclusion. The work has been heard at subsequent state occasions in the Abbey: the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the wedding of Prince William in 2011 and the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. It has been recorded in its original orchestral form and in arrangements for organ, military band and brass band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Levine</span> American conductor and pianist (1943–2021)

James Lawrence Levine was an American conductor and pianist. He was music director of the Metropolitan Opera from 1976 to 2016. He was terminated from all his positions and affiliations with the Met on March 12, 2018, over sexual misconduct allegations, which he denied.

<i>The Sorcerers Apprentice</i> (Dukas) 1897 symphonic poem by Paul Dukas

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a symphonic poem by the French composer Paul Dukas, completed in 1897. Subtitled "Scherzo after a ballad by Goethe", the piece was based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's 1797 poem named "Der Zauberlehrling". By far the most performed and recorded of Dukas' works, its notable appearance in the Walt Disney 1940 animated film Fantasia has led to the piece becoming widely known to audiences outside the classical concert hall. The score was first published in 1897 by A. Durand & Fils. The premiere was given in Paris on May 18, 1897 by the Societe Nationale de Musique with the composer himself conducting.

<i>Father Noahs Ark</i> 1933 film

Father Noah's Ark is a Walt Disney Silly Symphonies animated film. It is based on the biblical narrative of Noah's Ark. The short's musical score is an adaptation of the first dance in Ludwig van Beethoven's 12 Contredanses. The cartoon was released on April 8, 1933.

<i>Fantasia: Music Evolved</i> 2014 video game

Fantasia: Music Evolved is a 2014 motion-controlled rhythm game developed by Harmonix and published by Disney Interactive Studios for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One with Kinect. The game is the interactive successor to Walt Disney Animation Studios' 1940 animated film Fantasia and its 1999 sequel Fantasia 2000, both of which it is based upon.

<i>Fantasia</i> (franchise) American media franchise owned by The Walt Disney Company

Fantasia is an American media franchise owned by The Walt Disney Company that commenced in 1940 with the theatrical release of the film of the same name.

References

  1. 1 2 "Top Classical Albums". Billboard. July 8, 2000. p. 37. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  2. ↑ Warga, Wayne (October 26, 1980). "Disney Films: Chasing the Changing Times". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Cathy (October 22, 1994). "Disney Waves Magic Wand And Sequel Comes To Life After 54 Years". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 11, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  4. ↑ Brennan, Judy (August 19, 1997). "Coming, Sooner or Later". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  5. ↑ Previn 1991
  6. ↑ Stewart 2006, p. 288.
  7. ↑ Christiansen, Richard (October 31, 1991). "'Fantasia' A Hit With Video Audience". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  8. ↑ Stewart 2006, p. 106.
  9. ↑ Culhane 1999, p. 11.
  10. ↑ Culhane 1999, p. 8.
  11. ↑ Culhane 1999, p. 176.
  12. ↑ Culhane 1983, pp. 15–16.
  13. 1 2 Telotte 2008, pp. 38–40.
  14. ↑ Banagale 2014, p. 153.
  15. ↑ "Fantasia 2000". Soundtrack.net. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ Bonus Material: The Making of Fantasia 2000 at xx:xx–xx:xx
  17. 1 2 3 4 Culhane 1999, p. 177.
  18. ↑ Bonus Material: The Making of Fantasia 2000 at 35:27–35:54
  19. ↑ Bramburger, Bradley (January 8, 2000). "Classical: Keeping Score". Billboard. p. 33. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Fantasia 2000". Soundtrack.net. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  21. 1 2 Various – Fantasia 2000 Original Soundtrack , retrieved July 24, 2022
  22. ↑ "Child's Play: 'Thomas' Film Soundtrack on Track". Billboard. July 15, 2000. p. 71. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  23. ↑ Chicago Symphony Orchestra, James Levine – Fantasia 2000 [Original Soundtrack] Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic , retrieved July 24, 2022
  24. 1 2 "And the nominees are..." Ocala Star-Banner. p. 5D. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2012.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.