The Merry Melodies of Carnival of the Animals
On Saturday, October 1st, New York Theatre Ballet brings its family friendly, one-hour production of Carnival of the Animals. The ballet is set to the classic suite The Carnival of the Animals by the French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns. Although the piece was originally composed for a private concert, the piece found its way into the greater public conscience and has seeped its way into popular culture. Even if you have never heard the title, “Carnival of the Animals,” you have undoubtedly heard excerpts of the piece in numerous forums from cartoons to movies to Weird Al Yankovic.
A scene from NYTB’s Carnival of the Animals.
Photo Credit-Richard Termine
Following are two of the greatest moments in popular culture where the music has been used.
Walt Disney’s Fantasia 2000 used the finale from Carnival of the animals for one of their most amusing vignettes.
Bugs Bunny took on Daffy Duck in a piano duel of the piece in a classic Warner Brothers “Looney Toons” cartoon.
Come relive the musical memories of Carnival of the Animals this Saturday with the New York Theatre Ballet’s gorgeous interpretation.
The New York Theatre Ballet’s Carnival of the Animals; Saturday, October 1st at 3:00pm;Child $10; Adult $20; Schimmel Center at Pace University; 3 Spruce St, New York, NY 10038;(212) 346-1715; Tickets available at http://schimmelcenter.org/event/carnival-of-the-animals
