Performer, composer, and musical jester Peter Schickele grapples with a score.
In Monday’s (4/1) Classical WCRB (Boston), Laura Carlo writes, “As winter ends and spring unfolds, what better time than this to lighten the mood? Let’s enjoy a collection of clips from some of the greats of ‘classical music humor!’ ” The article includes descriptions and clips of musical artists who approached the traditions and foibles of classical music with comedy, among them pianist Victor Borge, opera singer Anna Russell, actress and comedian Patricia Routledge, composer and music educator Peter Schickele (whose recordings as P.D.Q. Bach won four Grammys for Best Comedy Album), and actors Dudley Moore and Peter Ustinov. The article also gives a shout-out to “comedy duo of Igudesman & Joo (violinist Alexsey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-ki Joo), whose first musical comedy show was in 2004, and over the last 20 years they’ve performed all over the world, bringing together classical and pop culture fans. Here’s their rendition of the 1978 song Gloria Gaynor made famous, ‘I Will Survive,’ but played through the lens of Mozart, Beethoven, Pachelbel and Chopin.”
