It does take an unsurprisingly large amount of talent and skill to successfully bring humor into areas like classical music. I have a comedy section in my collection with several of ‘Professor’ Schickele’s albums along with Anna Russell’s Wagner parody and some of Victor Borge as well.
I remember being entertained by Mr Schickele at a performance in a fine old 1920s movie palace, where if memory serves, he first appeared on stage by descending a rope. Money well spent by the memories this post reminds me of!
He descended on a rope in the performance I saw too! He’s a total laugh riot. I think my favorite (it’s hard to choose) has to be the Beethoven 5th with a sport commentator speaking while the orchestra is performing!