Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration
If anyone could corner the millennium, Disney could. In presenting the theme music to its millennium celebration at Epcot Center in Florida, the megacorporation attempts a grand, musical year-2000 salute. Naturally,World Millennium Celebrationweaves plenty of fiery brass, warm sting passages, stirring voices, and a mix of space romance and Earth adventure into the fabric of this fantasy work. Executive Music Producer Steve Skorija's task seems to be providing a backdrop for live performance, a scrim to unfurl behind the spectacle. And in doing so, the themes "Reflections of Earth," "We Go On," "Tapestry of Nations," "Promise," and "Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand" (complete as a gospel version as well) have an "Up with People" undercurrent that is ambiguous even as it is mildly diverting. On those merits,Millennium Celebrationsucceeds as a score. But for sheer entertainment value, the CD needs to give us more of the legendary mouse's magic and less of its roar.--Martin Keller