8 weird and wonderful times lego met classical music
You can make anything with Lego. But some people make entire Wagner operas, harpsichords and piano-playing robots. To celebrate Lego's 60th birthday, we've made a collection of the weirdest classical lego...
1. Lego pianist
How this performer manages to play anything at all is anyone's guess, considering he has plastic hooks for hands and his arms can't move from side to side. Diabelli Variations next, please.
2. Lego opera
An opera. By Philip Glass. Acted out in black and white. By Lego characters. Expect magic horses, French singing, unexplained feathers, and skeletons aplenty in this achingly niche-interest spectacle. We couldn't have come up with this one if we tried.
3. Lego cello
If you're not ready to invest in an actual cello, this impressive plastic sculpture is one to add to your shopping list. You won't get a sound out of it, but it's much simpler than explaining why your joint account's empty and why there's a Strad in your living room.
4. Lego robot
A strong contender for Beethoven's most annoying piece of music, 'Für Elise' parody videos crop up a fair few times on YouTube. By the sounds of it, this robot hasn't seen any of them. Or, in fact, ever heard the piece in his life. Be thankful he's not having a go at 'Ode to Joy'.
5. Lego Phantom of the Opera
Fed up of 'Für Elise'? Take a trip into the world of musical theatre with this Lego Lloyd-Webber classic. It's worth it just to see exactly what a 'Papier maché musical box in the shape of a barrel organ attached to the figure of a monkey in Persian robes playing the cymbals' looks like in Lego form.
6. Lego Ring Cycle
If you're not sold on the idea of sitting through 16 hours of four relentless mythical operas, allow us to recommend this bite-sized alternative. (Almost) all the magic of Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, complete with dragon-slaying and Rhinemaidens, re-enacted by tiny Lego characters. Genius.
7. Lego harpsichord
Painstakingly crafted from Lego roof tiles, elastic bands, and tiny bits of felt, this Lego harpsichord is actually playable… providing the piece you're performing is in C major, contains no sharps or flats, and won't be ruined by a few clunky Lego bricks bashing against each other. Don't expect the Goldberg Variations any time soon.
8. Lego Mozart
Getting your hands round this Mozart sonata is tricky enough when you've ten fully functioning fingers. But what this plastic pianist lacks in dexterity, he makes up for in enthusiasm. If at first you don't succeed, move your head from side to side and bash the piano repeatedly.
