MICKEY - finding inspiration in unusual places

Mickey Mouse in Fantasia, 1940

These past few weeks I had the opportunity to work on some very unusual projects. In working on these projects I found two very exciting sources of inspiration.

As an interpreter of classical music my main focus is finding a conclusive and enlightened new look at a piece. It is exactly that fresh relevance of a piece of music where new inspiration can make all the difference.

Many interpreters have their particular go-to places for inspiration. Alfred Brendel in his book Nachdenken über Musik (Musical Thoughts and Afterthoughts) mentions his beloved visits to art museums on performance days. Nature is another profound source of inspiration, one I love to tap into where ever I have a chance.

But inspiration can also come from places one might not expect. It only takes one moment, one glance, one impression to get a fresh creative idea.

In preparation for my recent pre-concert talk on Paul Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice for The Cleveland Orchestra I found myself looking at Walt Disney’s Fantasia.

Fantasia is a 1940 full length feature of seven cartoon shorts, one of them being The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. 

The orchestral film sore was recorded in collaboration with the legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski. Fantasia’s main purpose was to bring classical music to wider audiences. 

In my presentation for The Cleveland Orchestra I included a segment of the Fantasia, and VOILA, there was my most recent and very significant inspirational moment:

The uncompromising care for detail, and the highly artistic depiction of motion in conjunction with such a humanitarian sense of humor became for me a truly humbling yet sublimely inspiring moment. 

For the making of Fantasia (for which all frames were hand drawn!) Mickey Mouse got a face lift. Mickey, the hero of the Great Depression had fallen out of favor with audiences in the 1930s giving way to the funnier Donald Duck. 

Walt Disney decided to tap into the old brand of Mickey Mouse by renewing Mickey’s look. 

Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Wille, 1928

Old Mickey here seen with a pointy face, a long body, and a tail giving him a bit of a rodent look. New Mickey has a chubby face, a pear shaped body, no more tail and white gloved, clearly defined and expressive hands.

The cartoon artists used athletes from nearby UCLA - University of California in Los Angeles to copy motions and gestures. 

This three minute clip features the start of the center piece of Fantasia, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice:

So what is my take-away from looking at the Fantasia version of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice?

On one side it is all about the relentless and uncompromising pursuit of perfection to which I relate deeply as concert pianist, a perfection I find in every frame of the short.

And then there is the constant search for the most natural flow of movement be it at the piano on stage or in the musical lines as I create my interpretations. 

But most importantly for me it is all about doing one’s absolute best, leaving no stone unturned in the search for that inspiring interpretation, that world class cartoon short, or really anything else we set out to do. 

Walt Disney and Leopold Stokowski at a promo event for FANTASIA

It feels most excellent to follow in the footsteps of these two titans of music and entertainment on the path of creating something truly inspiring.