The Wall Street Journal on the enduring influence of Kill the Wabbit, a miniature Wagnerian masterpiece:

The Wall Street Journal on the enduring influence of Kill the Wabbit, a miniature Wagnerian masterpiece:

“I could sing you the entire cartoon before I knew what opera really was,” says Elizabeth Bishop, who performs the part of Fricka, wife of Wotan, king of the gods, [in the current Kennedy center production of Wagner's Ring Cycle.]

The rabbit in question is Bugs Bunny, who, in the 1957 Warner Bros. cartoon “What’s Opera, Doc?” finds himself hunted by Elmer Fudd, in the part of the hero, Siegfried.

“Kiww the wabbit! Kiww the wabbit!” Elmer, in an ill-fitting magic helmet, sings to the urgent strains of Ride of the Valkyries as he jabs his spear into a rabbit hole.

Bugs flees, dons a breast plate and blond braids, climbs atop an obese white horse, and for two minutes and a ballet interlude, fools the smitten Elmer into thinking he is Brünnhilde.

“Oh, Bwünnhilde, you’re so wovewy,” Elmer croons.

“Yes, I know it,” Bugs answers coquettishly. “I can’t help it.”

“Those of us who didn’t freak at the sight of a rabbit in a winged helmet sliding off of the back of a fat horse—we went into opera,” says Ms. Bishop, 49, who grew up in Greenville, S.C.


http://www.wsj.com/articles/singers-wecall-how-elmer-fudd-bugs-bunny-tuned-them-to-wagner-roles-1463753848

I wonder whether there is a parallel musical trope in Asian or Middle Eastern music that denotes exotic...

I wonder whether there is a parallel musical trope in Asian or Middle Eastern music that denotes exotic Occidentalism?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_riff?wprov=sfla1