Walt Disney's Fantasia [Original Soundtrack]

by Leopold Stokowski, Philadelphia Orchestra

Overview

Leopold Strokowski's 1940 recordings with the Philadelphia Orchestra for the movie Fantasia were landmarks on several counts. Apart from attempting to bring classical music to the masses in the theater, the soundtrack album -- which came out on LP in the 1950s -- was one of the earliest stereo recordings, featuring some of the most enjoyable high-fidelity sound of the period and boasting impeccable performances (even if the pieces were mostly re-edited and shortened). Apart from his reputation as a fiercely independent musical personality, Stokowski was also a showman with very few peers, and his careful yet extroverted performances of these pieces (including Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and the summary of Beethoven's "Pastorale Symphony") introduced many listeners not blessed with classical music educations to these pieces for the first time. (As the film wasn't a success on its initial release, there weren't millions of such listeners, but at least many tens of thousands.) The performances on Fantasia retain their luster in the modern era, with sound clean enough that they do not need to be considered "historical" recordings. The recordings are also infinitely preferable to the mid-'80s attempt to re-score Fantasia with a modern orchestra and modern sound -- not only did the latter fall considerably short of what people expected, but the interpretations were flaccid and dull by comparison with the originals. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	07/31/2001
Label:	Walt Disney
UPC:	0050086000777
Rank:	56511

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Toccata and Fugue, for organ in D minor, BWV 565 (BC J37)
2. Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a~Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
3. Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a~Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Chinese Dance
4. Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a~Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Dance of the Reed Flutes
5. Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a~Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Arabian Dance
6. Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a~Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Russian Dance
7. Nutcracker, suite from the ballet, Op. 71a~Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: Waltz of the Flowers
8. The Sorcerer's Apprentice (L'apprenti sorcier), symphonic scherzo for orchestra
9. Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring), ballet in 2 parts for orchestra

Disc 2

10. Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68~Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral) Op. 68: I Allegro Ma Non Troppo
11. Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68~Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral) Op. 68: II Andante Molto Mosso
12. Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68~Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral) Op. 68: III Allegro/IV Allegro/V Allegretto
13. Dance of the Hours (from La Gioconda)
14. Night on Bald Mountain (Noch' na Lïsoy gore), symphonic poem, edited by Stokowski
15. Ellens Gesang III ("Ave Maria"), song for voice & piano, D. 839 (Op. 52/6)

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Leopold Stokowski   Primary Artist,Conductor
Philadelphia Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Leopold Stakowski   Conductor

Technical Credits

Ted Kryczko   Reissue Producer
Walt Disney   Producer
Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky   Composer
Igor Stravinsky   Composer,Performer
Amilcare Ponchielli   Composer,Performer
Ludwig van Beethoven   Composer,Performer
Franz Schubert   Composer,Performer
Leopold Stokowski   Performer
Paul Dukas   Composer,Performer
Mel Metcalfe   Mixing Engineer
Rachel Field   Text
Claudia Mielnik   Art Direction
Ben Sharpsteen   Supervisor
C.O. Slyfield   Engineer
J.N.A. Hawkins   Engineer
Robert O. Cook   Re-Recording Supervisor
Johann Sebastian Bach   Performer,Composer
William E. Garity   Engineer
Modest Mussorgsky   Composer