Concert Review: Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
© The Flash List | October 6, 2012
Dallas Symphony Orchestra at Meyerson Symphony Center
Ever wonder what Saturday mornings in heaven might be like?
Maybe we’ll all stroll excitedly up the street to a grand auditorium built by brilliantly gifted architects where we can blissfully enjoy amusing cartoons displaying on a huge screen overhead while a real, live orchestra consisting of a multitude of talented classical musicians enchants our souls with all the beloved theme songs that have over the years become such an integral part of our personal and collective fiber.
Well, no need to wait until the afterlife; we can experience a little bit of heaven right here on earth in George Daugherty’s utterly delightful show Bugs Bunny at the Symphony.
This musical tribute to the great cartoon artist Chuck Jones is a combination of live classical music and onscreen classic animation conducted and created by Emmy Award™ winner George Daugherty in collaboration with his producing partner David Ka Lik Wong. This weekend’s concert at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center featured everyone’s favorite “wascally wabbit” and a host of his zany friends along with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performing the original score from many familiar Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.
Some of our favorite moments include …
Maestro Bugs conducts the orchestra despite wardrobe malfunctions while on the podium in “Baton Bunny”;
A “Rhapsody Rabbit” demonstrates his talent on the ivories (pausing only momentarily to snack on a carrot, take a quick phone call, etc.);
Jazz crooner wannabe Owl Jolson expresses “I Love to Singa” along with Pepe Le Pew, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and Petunia;
The top-hatted, high-steppin’ Michigan J. Frog performs the 1899 song “Hello! Ma Baby”;
Wile E. Coyote investigates the art of Road Runner trapping in “Zoom and Bored”;
Tweety bird thought he “taw a puddy tat,” and bad ol’ Sylvester gets a lesson on not putting defenseless feathered creatures in his mouth in “Home Tweet Home”;
"The Rabbit of Seville" provides Elmer Fudd with a scalp massage and beauty treatments;
"Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl" conduct (and then become) the orchestra;
Fred and Barney find misadventure in "Bedrock Ballet," and Scooby goes sleuthing for ghosts in "Hall of the Mountain King";
A banjo/harp/tuba playing "Long-Haired Hare" disrupts the practice session of opera singer Giovanni Jones;
… and "Th-th-th-that's [not] all folks!"
This whimsically entertaining production culminates with the 1957 pièce de résistance “What’s Opera Doc?” in which Elmer Fudd is determined to ''Kill the Wabbit'' in this parody of the work of 19th-century classical composer Richard Wagner (pronounced Ree-card Vog-nur).
You can almost throw your stuffy, symphony ‘quiet’ rules out the window during this program (in part because you would never want to squelch the precious squeals of laughter coming from youngsters sprinkled throughout the audience). This show is excellent for all ages, and is an utterly delightful way to introduce anyone to the symphony!
Get more information, including upcoming tour dates and locations, online at:
http://www.bugsbunnyatthesymphony.net
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Information
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is a world-class orchestra performing in one of the world's finest concert halls - the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center.
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