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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Probably as good as it gets, May 1, 2006
For fans of FANTASIA this CD is a nice companion to the DVD. You can relive the magic of the film with the audio tracks of the amazingly vivid and expressive performances of Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Those who just listen to the CD will probably be puzzled by the somewhat odd sound of the recording. These tracks were never intended for home listening. The selections for FANTASIA, with one exception, were recorded in 1939 in Philadelphia on film using a pioneering multitrack system. At a time when stereo recording was still just an experiment at Bell Labs, Disney recorded Stokowski and the Philly Orch using four or more different tracks (all on separate film reels) for a multi-dimensional audio experience. The resulting "Fantasound" was only ever presented at just a few select theatres at the original FANTASIA "road-show" engagements.
This revolutionary sound recording sadly has mostly been lost. When FANTASIA was put into general release, the film was cut and the "Fantasound" soundtracks were mixed down to the standard mono track of films of the time. The mono version persisted through multiple releases while the original multitrack masters decayed or disappeared altogether.
The present CD and DVD soundtracks derive from Disney's engineers recent restoration of the surviving sound elements to recreate something of the magic of the lost original. We can thank them for the effort and enjoy these exciting performances in what is probably the best sound they can be found in today. Although the best way to hear it is in the surround 5.1 tracks on the DVD. The fade effects as the sound moves around to match the screen images can sound very peculiar when the recording is listened to alone.
The history of Fantasia's recording and restoration is well documented in a bonus docu-feature on the 60th Anniversary DVD.
One interesting, but little-known side-fact is that the orchestra heard in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is not the Philadelphia! This piece was recorded in Hollywood in 1938 with members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic when the "Sorcerer" was originally planned as a deluxe short subject. It was at this time that Stokowski and Disney conceived the idea of a full "Concert Feature" and the remaining tracks were then recorded with the Phildelphia Orchestra including three others that didn't make it into the film.
Anyway, it's still a unique sound/music experience and well worth a listen! Are there better recordings of these works? Of course there are, including ones made by Stokowski. But there's only one FANTASIA!
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic collection of music, November 27, 2001
By A Customer
I had been looking for this CD for almost a year. I'm delighted to see that Disney is remastering and rereleasing its classic soundtracks, including this one, on relatively inexpensive CDs.
This is an excellect collection of Classical music. It may not please the most serious Classical music aficionado, but it serves as a great introduction to major Classical composers (Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky) as well as a few lesser known pieces (The Socerer's Apprentice) and a joy for the more casual Classical fan, such as myself.
The sound has been cleaned up, though the horns sound a little tinny. That is probably my only complaint about this record, but it is understandable given the age of this recording.
Note that you get both CDs, which are just over 50 minutes each.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasia is Still Fantastic, May 5, 2008
Let me say up front that I am not an audiophile. Unless something is really good or really bad, it pretty much all sounds the same to me. Additionally, I bought this recording of Fantasia to play on the little nursery CD player in my toddler's room. It does not have the greatest sound quality to begin with, but it suits my purpose, and my three year old can change her own CDs.
WE LOVE FANTASIA. This is the only CD that my daughter will go to sleep to. She listens to it every night. She tells me the stories of the ice skating fairies, the dancing mushrooms, and the swimming fish. She recognizes excerpts from the Nutcracker Suite where ever she hears them. I hear her humming snatches of the various pieces. She also tells me the story of "Magic Mickey" (i.e., The Sorcerer's Apprentice) every night. She recognizes exactly what is going on by the various movements, and has only seen the Fantasia DVD twice. Clearly, she sees the pictures in her head. This is a very special time for us, courtesy of some very special music.
Fantasia also brings back fond memories for me. I can remember seeing the movie with my parents, and later humming the tunes and watching the pictures in MY head. I think Fantasia gave me my love of classical music. It was one of the first cassette tapes that I kept in my car.
This music nurtures the imagination of young and old alike. The sound quality is good enough for me - it sounds perfect to my ears. I give this CD my highest recommendation. It is a grand tradition that can be passed on to younger generations.
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