- “I am Maestro Forte, court composer, and your most humble servant.”
- ―Forte
Maestro Forte was the main antagonist of Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas. He was the castle's former music conductor. When the Enchantress put the spell on the Beast, Forte was turned into a pipe organ. In this form, Forte found himself more useful to his master as a composer. Forte was willing to do everything in his power to stay in that form. Forte became jealous of Belle.
Forte's name is derived from the Italian word for "loud," being also a term used in musical scales indicating loud, heavy playing. It is also the Portuguese word for "strong."
Appearances
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Forte in his human form.
On the night of the curse (which happened to be Christmas Eve), after the Prince ended up getting, to his displeasure, a storybook from Lumiere as a Christmas present, he requested that Forte try to play a song for something that he hoped would be better than the gift. However, Forte, in an attempt to play "Deck the Halls" on the organ, did a terrible rendition on it, which caused the Prince to snap, and ultimately resulted in him refusing to let the Enchantress into the castle, which resulted in the curse.
Though the other palace servants wished to be human again, Forte preferred his organ form, in which the Beast considered him much more valuable as an adviser and confidant and found his depressing arrangements of notable classical music (including that of Beethoven) somehow made him feel better. Forte could use music to move nearby objects, but could not move himself, as his form was far too large and was also bolted to the wall. Forte spent much of his time composing a grand version of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 that he claimed would "bring the house down".
In order to maintain his organ form, Forte needed to prevent the Beast and Belle's blossoming romance and felt that the celebration of Christmas would only bring them closer together.
To help him, he convinced Fife, his reluctant servant apprentice, to lure both into ruining the date, under the promise of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 15 of his own composure. However, the Beast still wouldn't listen to him, so Forte decided to send Belle out into the dangerous Black Forest, with Fife following them to make sure that they didn't come back. When the Beast went out after Belle anyway in a rage, Forte believed that her return would result in him falling in love with her and, seeing no other option, encouraged him to destroy the magical rose.
Once again, Forte failed when the Beast remembered Belle's gift (a storybook) and felt remorse. In a last crazed attempt to prevent them from breaking the spell, Forte decided to destroy the whole castle and used the strongest musical scales of Beethoven's 5th, because, as he put it, "they can't fall in love if they're dead!" Fife tried to stop him, as the plan was too extreme and Forte revealed that his claim of a solo in his symphony was a lie.
Fife helped the Beast instead, and advised him that he must destroy the keyboard to stop the music. Forte was finally defeated when the Beast ripped his keyboard away from him, which ceased his contact with his pipes. In a blind rage, Forte tore himself free of the wall and began to collapse. This effectively 'kills' Forte and he crashed to the ground, destroyed. Though he knew that Forte had villainous designs, the Beast mourned the death of his best friend with Belle comforting him.
Background
Physical Appearance
Dark gold color, huge, and mental face. (As an organ) Very pale skin, gray wig, brown eyes, and an ugly face. (Skeleton face) (As a man)
Personality
Evil, grumpy, impolite, harsh, sarcastic, cunning, aloof, moody, overcritical, quick tempered, self centered, ruthless, and fussy.
Quotes
- "Fife, you approve?"
- "Oh, come along. It's merely an opera... to bring the house down."
- "Absolutely."
- "Solo for Fife in B-flat."
- "Yes. I know. Now, Fifey, in the midst of my crescendo, I thought I heard merriment outside the window. Have a little look-see, will you?"
- "Well, I think I might. I'll just pick myself up and...Oh! What's this? Heavens, look. I'm bolted to the wall!!"
- "Skating? Why on earth would he do a thing like that?"
- "What? Belle!?"
- "Trust me, Fife- Humanity is entirely overrated. Before the enchantment, there was no need for my particular brand of genius. But now the Master needs my melodies to feed his tormented soul. I am his confidant and his best friend. And I won't let some peasant girl ruin it for me! Fife, see to it that this blossoming love withers on the vine."
- "The music helps?"
- "Don't worry, old friend. I'm here for you, just as I have been, just as I always will be."
- "Yes. Awful, isn't it?"
- "But she does know."
- "She just doesn't care like I do."
- She's actually trying to bring Christmas back to the castle. And you know how much we despise Christmas."
- "Yes, sir. Um, of course, master." (Flashback)
- "Um, a piece in your honor, master." (Flashback)
- "But we've come so far since then. We've... risen above the tragedy."
- "I believe she's gone to the boiler room, or so, a little birdie told me."
- "Noise? NOISE!? This is my masterpiece. Master."
- "What? Belle?"
- "Oh, but the happiness is so... depressing. What's next? Love songs? Wedding marches? It's all that girl's fault."
- "Fife! Pay attention. I need you to pace when I think. The girl is evil, I tell you. She pulls him from my grasp. She fills his head with dreams of love and hope Christmas!"
- "No, but I can stop the girl..."
- "And now, for little Fife."
- "Mademoiselle, please. I am Maestro Forte, court composer and your most humble servant."
- "Yes. The entire castle is talking about you, child. They say you're planning a Christmas gala. Marvelous idea. The very thing to shatter the master's dark and gloomy past. But you must make this the grandest celebration ever. Have you gifts?"
- "Food?"
- "Garlands, ribbons, wreaths?"
- "Spangles and 'fandangles'?"
- "The trinkets, the trimmings, the trappings?"
- "A tree?"
- "But did you look in the Black Forest? There you will find a tree better than any you can dream of."
- "Chin up, son. There's profound lesson here. Keeping your word is much more important than bringing joy to another."
- "Not at all. I agree with you. Look after yourself. Let the master do the same. Never mind that the tree was always his favorite part of Christmas."
- "Mademoiselle, you are in more danger in this very room, I assure you."
- "Of course, mademoiselle. The master will remain completely in the dark."
- "Fife! I want you to follow her. Make sure they don't come back."
- "When you're finished fawning, Fife, perhaps you can recommend someone else to play your solo."
- "No! Um, she's abandoned you. Listen to your old friend, won't you? Have I ever steered you wrong? Led you astray? No. But the girl..."
- "Oh, my dead old friend, I told you not to feel for her Things were so much simpler before she came along, before we dared to... hope."
- "Ah, it tears me up to see you this way, master. Why do you torment yourself? There's the symbol of your curse. Destroy it, and end these adolescent notions of love and redemption. End your pain forever."
- "Yes! Do it! SMASH IT!"
- "What are you doing? What is it?"
- "Oh, a storybook. Does this one have pretty pictures you can color? Utterly dreadful, master."
- "Well, that would account for the creative wrapping."
- "No, master! Come back! She'll only prolong your torment!"
- "So, Beast gets girl, and it's a happy ending for everyone. Enchantment lifted, and Forte fades into the background. No longer important. No longer needed. I think not!"
- "Can you believe I never took a lesson?"
- "Don't you see, Fife? They can't fall in love if they're DEAD!"
- "You could have joined me, Fife, but I see my triumph is a solo act."
- "So naive. You're second fiddle, Fife, and that's all you'll ever be."
- "We can remain as we are forever and ever!"
- "Heavens! Master. You're not singing!"
- "Is this happy enough for you, master!? I know I'm downright giddy!"
- "Help!"
- "No!"
Gallery
Behind the Scenes
Forte was originally intended to be a character named Avenant. Although Avenant was the villain of the 1946 French film, this incarnation of Avenant would have been portrayed as Gaston's younger brother and the villain of a possible sequel to the 1991 film. His goal would be to ruin the lives of Belle and Prince Adam and then possibly kill them both, and although his plan would work partially, the truth would have been uncovered and it would lead to Avenant's demise at Adam's hands.
Although this portrayal was scrapped in favor of a midquel, several of Avenant's characteristics were incorporated into Forte, who desired to remain in organ form forever, despite doing so would ruin Belle and the Beast's lives, and his plan to drive them apart almost worked, but was ultimately foiled by Beast. In addition, the concept of a relative of the main villain from the original film wanting revenge would later be reused with Nasira in Nasira's Revenge and Morgana in The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea.
Although Forte himself did not appear in the Kingdom Hearts games, a large amount of his plans and motivations were reused for the Organization XIII member, Xaldin, who intended to manipulate the Beast into casting aside Belle and embracing his inner darkness so that he'd produce a powerful Heartless and a powerful nobody, the latter of which they intended to recruit into the organization.
Trivia
- Forte's motives were very similar to the Organization XIII member, Xaldin, both try to prevent the Beast from falling in love with Belle, (Forte outright warned him against it and Xaldin told him that Belle would never reciprocate his feelings) albeit for different reasons: Forte to ensure that the curse remains unbroken, and Xaldin to make it easier to lure the Beast into giving in to his darkness.
- Forte was the only character in the film who was entirely computer animated, while his human form was hand drawn.
- His exclamation "I'M BOLTED TO THE WALL!" became a popular video on YouTube.
- Curiously enough, an organ of that size is not only bolted to the wall by a chain or two. Not only has Forte several pillar-thick tubes that were most likely running below the floor, but the whole network of tubes connecting to the boiler's air pump. And considering Forte's size, this pump was most likely a large boiler in an adjacent room below or behind the wall. He should be as much part of the room than a separated object.
- Before he sings his song "Don't Fall in Love," Forte was a very unenthusiastic singer.
- Forte's eyes were usually black, but during the climax of "Don't Fall in Love" his eyes flashed bright green.
- The concept of Forte using music to comfort and later control his "Master" is based all too literally on the metaphorical saying "music soothes the savage beast."
- During his final performance to oppose the heroes, Forte claimed that he never took a lesson in music, which meant that his composing skills were based on raw talent alone and, combined with reluctance to do so, explained why the time that he tried to compose a cheerful Christmas Carol (Deck the Halls) turned out so terribly, especially as the notes appeared on music sheets as blots.
- Beethoven's 5th Symphony, the song that Forte used in an attempt to literally "bring the house down" in the climax, was written in 1804-1808, which contradicts Glen Keane's statement that the first film took place in the late 18th century (1770-1799, 1770-1789 assuming the franchise is accurate with the French Revolution).
- If you looked closely, when Forte first introduced himself to Belle and Chip, his lip syncing was way off.
- Forte in his human form had sharp canine teeth, which gave him a vampiric appearance.
- Forte's plan, had it succeeded, would most likely have backfired on him for the worse, as the commentary for the first film by Don Khan revealed that the Beast retaining the curse would have caused him to devolve psychologically into a literal beast, with the implication that his servants, Forte included, would die and turn into real objects as a result.
- Alongside Zira, Forte was the only sequel Disney Villain who died.
