ARTS REVIEW: 'FANTASIA' AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL

The Magic of Disney’s 'Fantasia' Recreated by John Mauceri, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

By: Parimal M. Rohit

August 20, 2011

(Friday, August 19, 2011 in Hollywood, California) John Mauceri, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra’s Founding Director, returned to his old stomping grounds for three blissful nights of magic, as Walt Disney’s Fantasia filled the nighttime air at the base of the foothills just above Hollywood. The weekend-long engagement was a tribute to the 20-year anniversary of the film’s restoration and to Walt Disney’s vision of intertwining animation with classical music.

Throughout the nearly two-hour symphony, Mr. Mauceri conducted a masterful symphony synchronized to selected clips of the film presented on each of the Bowl’s jumbotron screens.

Mr. Mauceri warmed up the nearly 14,000 in attendance on August 19th by reminiscing on his days in Los Angeles before moving to his current residence in North Carolina. In his first comments to the audience shortly after the symphony’s introductory set, Mr. Mauceri poked fun at an issue every Angeleno could relate to: traffic.

For example, he joked of how he read a freeway sign in New York that apparently read: “Exit Closed. Use Previous Exit.”

He also had a thing or two to say about Carmageddon, saying how it was a prototypical Los Angeles event: a lot of hype, but in the end, much ado about nothing.

Pleasantries and re-acquaintances aside, Mr. Mauceri returned to his position in front of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and led the symphony as if he had never left the perch.

Through it all, the Bowl’s attendees were indeed treated to a magical night of some of Fantasia’s greatest elements, including certain portions that never had a chance to be fully completed or entered into the film.

For example, there was "The Swan of Tuonela" -- an elegantly beautiful masterpiece telling the story of the final passages of Nordic warriors. (Roots of the phrase “Swan Song,” anyone?)

Unfortunately, "The Swan of Tuonela" never made it into the final Fantasia cut, yet the clip’s presentation at the Bowl was as awe-inspiring as it was well-received. Equally well-received was another deleted piece, "Claire De Lune," which carried quite a serene theme.

Among the highlights was the ever-so-popular segment of "The Sorcerer’s Apprentice" and the climactic grand finale piece featuring a tribute to spring and a spectacular fireworks show.

Though the evening was full of mesmerizing classical tunes by some of the genre’s greatest names, such as Mozart and Tchaikovsky, perhaps the greatest element of Fantasia at the Hollywood Bowl was its integration of unused elements of the film and presenting it to the audience, giving a fresh perspective of one of Disney’s most endeared classics. Through storyboards and extensive artwork, it was as if Mr. Mauceri and his orchestra presented Fantasia: The Sequel, even though the masterpiece production could just as easily be labeled: Fantasia: The Version You Never Saw in Theaters.

Equally as heartwarming was the return of Mr. Mauceri, who had last performed at The Bowl about four years ago while serving as the Orchestra’s founding director and chief conductor. During his 16-year tenure as conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Mr. Mauceri -- who has won two Emmys, as well as a Tony and Grammy -- led more than 300 concerts, entertaining about four million fans in the process. In addition to The Bowl, he has also led symphonies on musical stages on Broadway and in Hollywood.

John Mauceri and his orchestra performed 'Fantasia' at the Hollywood Bowl from August 19-21, 2011.