Customer Reviews
Great for kids with Autism! 
2007-04-10
As a parent of profoundly autistic twin boys, this CD is so calming and I never tire of listening to it in the car. This CD on their Walkman helps get them through loud basketball games or sensory overload events at school. They LOVE "Rhapsody in Blue!"
Fantasia 2000 
2006-12-30
I have most of these pieces on other CD's, and I mostly got this one for 'Rhapsody in Blue'. If you don't own 'Firebird' and don't feel like owning the entire thing, then get this--it's got the highlights. Overall the selection is varied. You have probably forgotten that 'Pomp and Circumstance' is a real piece, and not just a graduation death march--this CD will remind you, with its very wise summary of the very extensive five marches by Elgar. This is certainly a lot more interesting than most classical highlights CD's.
Great pieces of classical music! 2005-11-16
This is a really lovely collection of exhilarating and intriguing music pieces. Fantasia helped spawn my interest in classical music. The animation is beautiful in the movie but it's the music which makes it happen.
Fantastic! 2005-07-18
My favorite piece of music ever is "Rhapsody in Blue" and I've managed to collect quite a few versions of it over the years. This is the absolute best recording of "Rhapsody in Blue" I have ever heard! I'm listening to it on a constant loop tonight. The entire record is great as is the other soundtrack from "Fantasia." The movie is a wonderful way to get kids exposed to classical music without them even realizing it! Worked on me when I was a kid. Once again, the Mouse works his magic!
One song along would make this worth buying 2004-11-21
In my opinion, this CD is worth it just for "Rhapsody in Blue," but there are seven other great tracks, as well. Music like this spans generations; it's essentially timeless in its beauty and ability to put a smile on your face. Great stuff. Yes, there may only be eight tracks on this disc, but four of them are nine minutes or longer, so you're not being cheated out of anything. I'm not a steadfast Disney fan, but they really know how to pick classical music for their masterpiece.
A Masterpiece continued 2004-10-22
Without the gorgeous visuals, the soundtrack to
Fantasia/2000 is nothing more than a collection of some of classical music's greatest moments. But what moments they are! Conductor James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra provide new (though hardly groundbreaking) arrangements for these classical music warhorses. Piano virtuoso Yefim Bronfman joins in to record the Allegro section of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 (if you like this track, check out Bronfman playing the entire piece on his 1999 disc with the Los Angeles Philharmonic), and soprano Kathleen Battle lends a high note to the climax of Elgar's
Pomp and Circumstance. We also get the classic
Sorcerer's Apprentice from the original (and now out-of-print)
Fantasia soundtrack. Performed by Philharmonia Orchestra, the Paul Dukas composition still steals the show. The original movie may have been a flop, but with any luck
Fantasia/2000 will turn some young minds on to classical music, especially with such inspired choices as Respighi's
Pines of Rome. Like what you hear? Remember, these are just excerpts and you really owe it to yourself to hear the works in their entirety--slow movements and all. That said, whether you're a Disney fan, an IMAX aficionado, or just a classical-lover-to-be, you can't go wrong with this disc.
--Jason Verlinde
A great introduction to the wonder of classical music 2004-08-05
It may have been a while back, but I still remember how majestic and awe-inspiring I found Fantasia 2000 when it came out in theaters...it was my favorite movie of the year. The original Fantasia was a bold experiment, and the sequel is an evolution of all of the ideas that went into that film. Some people said that the music didn't match the action, and some people just hate it when classical music is edited (or butchered, as they would call it). Personally...
Buying this CD was a no-brainer. If you are looking into classical music for the first time, or merely trying to expand your classical horizons in small doses, this is great way to go. While it's true that the music was pretty heavily edited, the arrangements are very well done. Also, these recordings are full of warmth and sparkle, giving good emphasis to key moments.
A good example of this is the first and last pieces. Naturally, the short snippet of Beethoven's 5th Symphony cannot convey the emotions of the full piece, but never before can I recall a recording of it having the same effect on me that this one did. The crowing achievement of the movie (and the soundtrack!) is the Firebird. It's a brilliant piece of music, and will leave a lasting impression on all who hear it for the first time. The other pieces used ranged from the well-known (Sorcerer's Apprentice and Rhapsody in Blue), to the unique (Carnival of the Animals and Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2).
If you like classical music (but particularly if your interest is a casual one), or liked the movie, this is a worthy purchase.
Great soundtrack for a very good film. 2002-09-25
Being a fan of the original Fantasia, I like the sequel very much as well. The segments in between the animation are fairly awful, but the animation is superb.
The music recorded was conducted perfectly, despite it being edited for time. The versions of Rhapsody In Blue, Carnival of the Animals Finale, and The Steadfast Tin Soldier are great, probably the best recordings on CD. The Sorceror's Apprentice is NOT a re-recording. A wise move on Disney's part to keep the original recording.
I reccomend this mainly to fans of the film...those who are fans of the composers might want to buy complete versions of these works on other labels.
good choice! 2001-12-13
Don't be fooled by the Disney association. The Chicago
Symphony does a truley amazing job in playing and interpreting
some of the greatest works ever written. It's a nice introduction
to the songs, but you should definitly check out the full-length
versions as well. I know there is no 'perfect' in music. But the Chicago Symphony comes damn close. You wont regret buying this cd.
Another fantastic Disney soundtrack 2001-11-28
I must admit that I prefer the original Fantasia's soundtrack, although Fantasia 2000 certainly has its share of highlights. I wasn't overly impressed with the sharply abridged version Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, and the Firebird Suite struck me as somewhat dull and uninspired, even in the movie version. As for Pomp & Circumstance, that always makes me think of the bad renditions at high school graduations; fortunately this version is quite innovative and good. Overall, whether or not I loved each song, I enjoyed each, since the level of playing is very high and the quality of sound excellent.
Like the first Fantasia, this is a great introduction to Classical music for people of all ages. (People who very much enjoy any particular selection should consider procuring full-length versions.) This is a great anthology and worth many a listen for Disney and classical music fans alike.
