Andre Previn was at the receiving end for one of Morecambe and Wise’s classic sketches from their “Morecambe and Wise Show’ in the early 70’s. Previn is a famous pianist and composer and was then the main conductor for the London Symphony Orchestra. The sketch starts off with Ernie Wise introducing the act:

 

“And now ladies and gentleman the highlight of the evening, a truly great international star…Good evening!”*

 

Previn is accompanied by his orchestra on the stage, with Eric Morecambe taking the lead on the piano. Eric walks out onto the stage; “Is this the band? I’ve seen better bands on a cigar! “Where’s the piano? (Looking at the grand right beside him!) Never mind this will do.”*

 

The orchestra start playing the introduction to the ‘A minor Piano Concerto’ by Edvard Grieg, as Eric goes to take his position at the piano. The orchestra stop before he gets there and he complains to Previn that the introduction is too short – not giving him enough time to walk from the podium to his seat. He asks Eric how much longer it should be. “About this much” he says as he stretches his feet across the floor “About a yard”*

 

After another false start (Eric couldn’t see the conductor’s cue from behind the piano lid), the orchestra finish playing the introductory section. It’s now Eric’s turn to take over and he proceeds playing a folky piano rag. Here comes the classic gag:

 

Previn – “What…what were you playing there?”*

Eric – “Griegs ‘Piano Concerto’!”*

Previn – “You’re playing… you’re playing all the wrong notes!”*

Eric steps up out of his seat and grabs Previn by the lapels of his suit;

“I’m playing all the right notes….. but not necessarily…in the right order.”*

 

Previn then takes the seat at the piano to show him how it’s done. He starts to play the real solo to the ‘Piano Concerto’, performing the intro to the piece like a true professional. Once he is finished, there is a short moment of silence before Eric replies dismissively, “Rubbish!”*

 

Andre Previn did remarkably well to keep in character for the sketch, after only learning the script a short time before he got to the TV studio (on his way to the BBC television centre). Throughout the whole act, he holds onto his seriousness that Eric and Ernie wanted him to portray, after they told him that they must never think of what they are doing as being funny.

 

The sketch was an instant hit across the country, much to the misfortune of Previn, who became the butt of many jokes about his name, which Morecambe and Wise mispronounce all through the sketch, calling him “Pree-vin”, “Previt” and “Preview”.*

 

Not long after the show was aired, Previn later recalled that, while he was conducting an orchestra performing the ‘Piano Concerto’, he had to stop them playing as people in the crowd were interrupting the performance, trying to hold back fits of laughter! He had to wait for the people to calm down before he could start the performance.

 

* quoted from The Morecambe and Wise Show/ Andre Previn sketch