Rabbit of Seville

I remember the first time I ever heard a recording of classical music. I was very young —no more than 4 — and I was watching an episode of the Looney Tunes on television. This particular episode, entitled “Rabbit of Seville,” is one of the most critically acclaimed cartoons of the past 50 years and is universally regarded by Bugs Bunny fans as one of his finest moments. Everyone remembers the prolific scene where Bugs is giving Elmer Fudd a shave after forcing him into a barber’s chair and then subsequently giving him outlandish treatments by standing on his bald head and massaging him with his large feet. Even as a child, I remember thinking it was pure genius.

Before I continue, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Marc Chirico and I am an intern in the Licensing Department at Naxos of America, Inc. During my stay here I have been learning about the emotional power harnessed with classical music. One of my responsibilities here is to help create marketing strategies for potential clients, and on my first day I was asked to think of all the places classical music is commonly heard. I never grasped it before, but I came to the realization that classical music is ubiquitous. It’s heard in movies, television shows, video games, greeting cards, websites, ringtones, mobile phone apps, advertisements, movie trailers, educational books, symphonies, Broadway musicals, and even on line at the grocery store. In each setting, the classical music elicits certain emotions within the listening person and therefore enhances the overall experience, whether it’s for educational purposes or for dramatic effect.

My point is this: classical music leaves an emotional impact far deeper than any other genre because of its ubiquity. I can fairly say I learned about classical music through the Looney Tunes, and a major reason why these cartoons have stuck with me ever since is largely due to the music associated with it. “Rabbit of Seville” is of course a parody of the classic opera “Barber of Seville” by Gioachino Rossini — but the surreal thing is that Naxos owns the publishing rights to “Barber of Seville.”

Stay tuned as I will be continuing to write more blog entries about music licensing!