The Full Works Concert - Friday 9 May 2014

In a light-hearted Concert to get you in the weekend mood, Anne-Marie Minhall plays music that’s been used by some of Britain’s finest comedy acts.

Tonight Anne-Marie Minhall delves into the television archives to find classical works that have been put to use in some of the funniest ever TV comedy sketches. 

Watch the classic moments here

Who can forget that classic moment when conductor Andre Previn arrived on the Morecambe and Wise Show to conduct Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, only to find the hapless Eric was the soloist? Forever remembered - in Morecambe's words - as Andrew Preview, Previn has secured his place as a light entertainment legend - if not in musical history. 

An exploding version of Johann Strauss's By the Beautiful Blue Danube featured in Monty Python’s Flying Circus, while Mozart's Horn Concerto No.4 in Eb major K.495 became the music for Flanders and Swann's comic song ‘Ill Wind’. 

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, 'Pathetique', received a side-splitting rendition from Mr. Bean (who also tried his hand at the Moonlight Sonata), The Two Ronnies took Luigi Denza's 'Funiculi, Funicula' and turned it into one of their bawdy seaside songs, and finally, tonight's Concert finishes with a ‘Surprise’ from Joseph Haydn.


Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor Opus 16
Piano: Jean-Marc Luisada
Michael Tilson Thomas conducts the London Symphony Orchestra

Johann Strauss II: By the Beautiful Blue Danube Opus 314
Claudio Abbado conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Horn Concerto No.4 in Eb major K.495
French horn: Anthony Halstead
Christopher Hogwood conducts the Academy of Ancient Music

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor Opus 13 'Pathetique'
Piano: Jonathan Biss

Luigi Denza: 'Funiculi, Funicula'
Tenor: Jose Carreras 
Edoardo Muller conducts the English Chamber Orchestra

Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.94 in G major ‘Surprise’
Howard Shelley conducts the Orchestra of Italian Switzerland