What’s Opera, Doc? pulls from Wagner operas as
Elmer Fudd chases Bugs Bunny throughout the show. The most famous reference to
Wagner opera in this cartoon is probably “Ride of the Valkuries” when Elmer
Fudd sings “Kill the Wabbit” to the same tune. Here is a clip.
A second cartoon example is
A Corny Concerto.
This classic
cartoon opens at Corny-gie Hall, obviously a play on New York’s Carnegie Hall
as Elmer Fudd introduces the various selections to be performed. The first
segment contains Johann Strauss’ Tales
from the Vienna Woods with Porky Pig and Bugs Bunny and the second contains
The Blue Danube with what looks like
a baby Daffy Duck.
Cartoons
such as these exposed children to classical music at a young age in a way that
is quite accessible. What are ways kids are most likely to be exposed to
classical music early on in today’s society?
What
are some of your favorite classic cartoons that contain classical music
references?
