In a discussion of anime involving classical music, the writer at Transientem included links to several animated versions of Liszt’s second Martian Hungarian rhapsody, including performances by Tom & Jerry
Bugs Bunny
and Mickey Mouse.
Here’s another, featuring a bunch of canines, a pig and a purple octopus.
For comparison, here’s a live-action version, with Victor Borge. I don’t know who the other pianist is, but he deserves a medal.
To cleanse your ears after all that Liszt, here’s some Mozart, performed by Aleksey Igudesman, violin, and Richard Hyung-ki Joo, piano.
Incidentally, classical music fans might want to pay attention to the background music in Macademi Wasshoi.
Update: See also the second excerpt from Mind Game here.
Dude! What a coincidence! I had this rhapsody come up on my playlist the other day and my brother remarked about the Tom & Jerry version, so we looked it up to watch. xD Thanks for these other versions! I was thinking of looking them up as well! 😀
It must be hard to play the piano with only three fingers on each hand.
In the early part of that cartoon, before Jerry shows up, I find myself wondering if Tom’s mannerisms were borrowed from some real performer. The way he walked, and bowed, and dried his hands with the handkerchief.
I find it interesting that to me the most humorous performance was the live action one. But maybe that’s just because I outgrew Bugs Bunny and them years ago.