Most animation fans know, that this title was part of a controversy at the Oscars in 1946. A strinkingly similar Tom and Jerry cartoon THE CAT CONCERTO (1947) was in production simultaneously with this title. Both studios accused each other of plagiarism. A recent investigation into the surviving records of both cartoons suggest that it was a coincidence. But onto the merits of this short.Bugs performs a rendition of List's Hungarian Rhapsody on piano on stage. Freleng had previously used this classical piece as the foundation for the main action in RHAPSODY IN RIVETS (1941). He puts it to excellent use again here. As Bugs performs the piece, he is constantly in battle with a mouse that inhabits the interior of the piano. Eventually the mouse out performs him. As with most of Freleng's music driven shorts of the 40's, there is very little dialog spoken by Bugs, as the music dictates the action as he's performing it. One of the best Bugs Bunny shorts of the 1940's. Freleng did some of the best Bugs shorts during this time frame.

. . . and a Marx Brothers flick broke out? asks RHAPSODY RABBIT. Bugs Bunny brings back some memories for me here, as he spends most of the Warner Bros. animated short playing Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #2" as a concert pianist. I dropped out of piano lessons just after learning to play a greatly simplified version of the passage Bugs plays with his toes toward the end of this piece. Instead of tackling the next song in my lesson book, I used my freedom from instruction to practice playing my high-tide tune lying on my back with the piano bench perpendicular to the piano keyboard and my hands crossed out-of-sight above and behind my head. But Bugs is able to perform an UNSIMPLIFIED Hungarian Rhapsody using not only his toes, but his teeth and ears, as well. Not only that, but the put-upon hare needs to become his own concert bouncer, user lethal force for the benefit of the properly polite concert-goers. Unfortunately for Bugs, the mouse living in the concert hall piano is a better keyboard wizard than the bunny, butting in to play the most challenging portion of Liszt's signature composition. Being second fiddle to a rodent cannot be very pleasant!

I could attempt to review like a certain Nutball! of Movies!! And use the same exact "review"!!! Cutting...and pasting!!! said exclamation heavy!!! review on every single Looney Tunes Short!!! But that's not my style!!!... OK sorry about that but it just really peeves me. Anyways on to the review proper.Bugs is trying to play a classical piece for the audience, but is constantly troubled by a mouse in the piano. This cartoon is funny when taken on it's own, but very similar to "Cat Concerto" a Tom & Jerry short made around the same time with the same storyline. While this short is great, that one is utter brilliance. And this one sadly pales in comparison. This animated short can be seen on Disc 4 of the Looney Tunes Golden Collection Volume 2 and also features an optional commentary by Daniel Goldmark.My Grade: B+

Bugs Bunny is a musician playing Franz Liszt's 'Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2' for apparently a large audience. First Bugs has some problems with a coughing guy in the audience, he knows how to solve that, then with a mouse who plays parts of the rhapsody.The way this cartoon makes fun of the preparation of a musician, the way Bugs solves the problem with the noisy audience, the way the mouse is used are hilarious. When the piano slowly changes into other things (typewriters) and the keys begin to move it gets even funnier. The music put together with the animation is a good reason to see this cartoon, the great gags make sure you will like it even more!