When Walt Disney faked a meeting with Prokofiev

When Walt Disney faked a meeting with Prokofiev

Daily Comfort Zone

norman lebrecht

July 22, 2024

The Hollywood illusionist made a film of himself meeting, supposedly, the composer of Peter and the Wolf.

You don’t have to look too closely to see that it’s not Prokofiev but a body double.

He was a composer called Ingolf Dahl, a Stravinsky assistant well known in Hollywood.

This is what they did before they had AI.

Worth watching, nonetheless.

Comments

  • Ruben Greenberg says:

    Dahl was an interesting musical figure in his own right. He is worth exploring. Michael Tilson Thomas studied with him.

  • Antwerp Smerle says:

    Fascinating! Dahl taught Michael Tilson Thomas, who recorded an album of Dahl’s music in 1994. I’m looking forward to hearing it.

    https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8079694–defining-dahl-the-music-of-ingolf-dahl

  • Philipp Lord Chandos says:

    Is there proof that Prokofiev actually did visit Hollywood?

  • Lawrence Goldman says:

    Dahl was on the music faculty of the University of Southern California from 1945 until his death in 1970.

  • Paul Carlile says:

    Curious that it’s implied that Prokofiev spoke little english; in fact his english, and french was impressively good! Possibly, having an “interpreter” to recount P&W was considered better film material.

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