Courtesy Arts & Ideas
Perlmutter.
For the afternoon’s performance of classical music, a gentleman approached the stage under the tent at the south end of the New Haven Green in turquoise socks and casual tan footwear. The opening piece began with the familiar notes from the “Toreador Song” from the famous opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. But the lyrics were not by any means familiar.
“Please keep your bull outside the china shop. No bulls allowed that’s where they stop!” sang Richard Perlmutter. The audience giggled. The young children were enthralled.
Perlmutter is a four-time Grammy award nominee for children’s music and the founder of the ensemble Beethoven’s Wig, which performed last Wednesday as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Beethoven’s Wig sings new lyrics to some of classical music’s top hits, incorporating humor, wit, and fun into a genre often perceived — rightly or not — as serious and conservative.
Perlmutter’s 45-minute performance made classical music more approachable for children and adults alike. “You will hear music from composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Bach and Verdi,” he said. “Now these composers were long gone when I wrote this music — and as co-writers, they were pleasures to work with.” The adults in the audience let out a warm laughter.
He gave Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” with these lyrics: “Here’s a short Beethoven piano piece / He wrote this piece / just for Elise / It’s all about a fellow named Maurice / who came from Greece / with a valise.”
Aside from the clear wit and musical talent Perlmutter exhibited song after song, there were also anecdotes and jokes.
“How about a little Mozart?” he asked. As the audience applauded in agreement, Perlmutter pulled an actual miniature Mozart figurine from behind his back to reveal to the audience. Everyone let out sincere laughs, establishing a true connection to Perlmutter and to the music.
The program continued with familiar tunes such as the celebrated “Chopsticks”; Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” which became a tune about the difficulties of moving a piano; and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with lyrics like “look out, duck for cover” in reference to the use of actual cannons in the debut performance of the piece in 1882. Perlmutter even included the well-known wedding march and a conclusion that involved the children dancing to “The Can-Can.”
With Perlmutter’s comedic approach to the music, it was easy to become caught up in the fun of his unorthodox performance. It was one way to connect the centuries-old music to a modern audience, even if it was interwoven with lyrics about bulls in china shops.
