Concert Pianist Performs 'Flight Of The Bumblebee' On Child's Toy Piano — And It's Excellent

Sep 02, 2021 by apost team

Even if you might not know the 19th-century Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov by name, you would likely recognize one of his most famous works: the orchestral interlude “Flight of the Bumblebee.” Written in 1900 as part of Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan,” the piece accompanies a scene wherein a magic swan transforms the Tsar’s son into a bee so that he can fly away and visit his father. In the century since Rimsky-Korsakov composed the opera, this selection has become a piece of mainstream pop culture featured in the video game Tetris 99, the 1996 movie “Shine” and in a variety of viral videos online.

One such video comes from Julian Clef, an award-winning classical pianist from the U.K. In a video Clef posted to his Instagram account in August 2021, the professional musician takes on the notoriously fast “Flight of the Bumblee” — except he does it all on a tiny piano designed for kids. Since posting it online, Clef’s video has received a flood of comments from followers impressed by how fast he can play the interlude on such a compact digital piano. Media outlets have also picked up the performance, noting that it’s a departure from his usual gigs — recitals at Buckingham Palace in London.

What Clef’s video demonstrates is that this 100-year-old piece of music is still captivating listeners around the world — whether it’s played in a concert hall or on a tiny piano in someone’s living room. Read on to find out more about “Flight of the Bumblebee’s” history and Clef’s impressive career.

Rimsky-Korsakov wrote the opera that would feature the famous piece based on one of a poem by Alexander Pushkin, one of Russia’s highly venerated writers. In the original poem, however, the prince transforms into an insect three times, according to an article from Purdue University. First, the princess changes him into a mosquito, followed by turning him into a fly and a wasp.

Rimsky-Korsakov was clearly inspired by this final transformation, though he modified Pushkin’s poem so that the prince would become a bee.

Today, it is perhaps most well-known for appearing on the first episode of “The Muppets Show” in 1977, though it also famously appeared in the Disney film “Fantasia 2000.” Given the famous interlude’s history, it takes a formidable musician to breathe new life into this piece. But if there’s anyone who’s up to the challenge, then Julian Clef fits the bill.

According to his website, Clef studied music at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester and Royal Northern College of Music, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Beyond his academic achievements, Clef has also performed at a variety of well-known venues and events, including at Buckingham Palace, Leeds College of Music, St David’s Hall in Cardiff, NCPA in Mumbai and Dvorak Prague International Music Festival. 

The successful musician also has a small, dedicated following on his Instagram, where he posts more serious performances in addition to videos of him playing on a mini piano. We look forward to what Clef will do next — whether it’s performing at Buckingham Palace or jamming out on a tiny piano. 

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What do you think of Clef’s video? Have you heard of the “Flight of the Bumblebee” before? Where? Let us know — and be sure to pass this fun video on.