Isabel Hagen - likes a good viola joke
5/6/202632 min
Comedian Isabel Hagen is a classically trained violist, and a filmmaker. As a comedian, she has been featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and was a New Face of Comedy at the Just for Laughs festival in Montréal. She talks to Manny about how the viola can be funny and make people love classical music by making them laugh!
Our theme song is Schumann’s Arabeske in C Major, Op. 18 performed by our host, Emanuel Ax.
Harold en Italie, S. 472/R. 138: I. Harold aux montagnes
Berlioz
Philip Dukes & Piers Lane
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83: I. Allegro non troppo
Brahms
Jenő Jandó & Brussels Philharmonic & Ali Rahbari
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio
Beethoven
Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra & Richard Edlinger
Courtesy of Naxos of America, Inc.
The Star-Spangled Banner
John Stafford Smith
Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy & Keith Brion
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Credits
Classical Music Happy Hour is supported in part by the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation and by Linda Nelson.
Our production team includes Lauren Purcell-Joiner, Eileen Delahunty, Laura Boyman, Elizabeth Nonamaker, David Norville, Christine Herskovits, and Ed Yim.
Our engineering team includes George Wellington, Irene Trudel, and Chase Culpon.
Classical Music Happy Hour is produced by WQXR in partnership with Carnegie Hall.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsEmanuel Ax· Host0:00
Classical Music Happy Hour is supported by Viking, committed to exploring the world in comfort, offering destination-focused small ship experiences on all seven continents with a shore excursion included in every port and programs designed for cultural enrichment. And every Viking voyage is all-inclusive with no children and no casinos. Learn more at viking.com.
Isabel Hagen· Guest0:26
It feels like one of those pieces that I don't need to hear ever again, but that's- Okay ... that's my hot take.
Emanuel Ax· Host0:33
[liquid pouring] From WQXR and Carnegie Hall, this is Classical Music Happy Hour, hosted by me, pianist Manny Ax. Each episode we'll speak with a special guest about their lives, listen to some of their favorite musical gems, play music-inspired games, and answer questions from you, our listeners. Isabel Hagen is a woman of many talents. A Juilliard-trained violist, her career took a bit of a left turn when she discovered comedy. She has appeared twice on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, and was a new face of comedy at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. These days she also moonlights as the writer, director, and star of a film called On a String. Isabel, welcome to the show.
Isabel Hagen· Guest1:25
Thank you. Thanks so much for having me.
Emanuel Ax· Host1:28
No, it's great. It's a pleasure. It's a pleasure