Of the many plans of (1901-1966), the cartoon Fantasia was undoubtedly the most ambitious. The world-famous American entrepreneur was responsible for groundbreaking projects such as the first full-length cartoon (Snow White, 1937) and an eye-catching amusement park (Disneyland, 1955). What makes the largely drawn Fantasia (1940) so special is the combination of technical craftsmanship with respect
… for classical works by composers such as , and . The fusion of classical music with the brand-new art form was never before seen and controversial. Disney asked conductor to write special arrangements for the . To reproduce his music as best as possible, The Walt Disney Company came up with a first version of surround sound: Fantasound. Hardly any cinema could afford the system. In addition, an important sales market in Europe was lost due to the war. Fantasia was a flop and Walt Disney would never recoup his investment in his lifetime. However, the timeless film was re-issued many times over the years, eventually making it one of the best-selling Disney films. For millions of people, Fantasia was the first introduction to classical music. This re-release features Stokowski's original soundtrack and a digitally recorded reinterpretation of 1982 conductor Irwin Kostal. (JE)more
