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The classic Bugs Bunny cartoon “What’s Opera Doc?” was released 50 years ago this week (on July 6th, 1957). This is the operatic short that gave us Elmer Fudd singing “Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit” to the tune of Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries”. It has introduced several generations of children to the concepts and themes of opera. In 1994 it was voted the #1 cartoon of all time by 1000 members of the animation industry.
For those of you not familiar with the story, the demigod Siegfried (played by Elmer Fudd) is on a mission to kill the wabbits when he sees the fair Valkyrie Brunhilde (played by Bugs in drag) on what’s probably the fattest horse ever portrayed in animation. Siegfried falls in love, Brunhilde plays hard to get, they dance, Brunhilde’s wig falls off revealing Bugs, and then things get interesting. Siegfried calls upon the elements to strike down Bugs, and when he finally is successful in striking down Bugs with a lightning bolt, he immediately regrets it. This is an archetypal opera libretto, dealing with love, tragedy and regret. But enough of me talking about it; just watch it for yourself:
