Isabel Hagen - likes a good viola joke
Isabel Hagen - likes a good viola joke  
Podcast: Classical Music Happy Hour
Published On: Wed May 06 2026
Description: 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 Listen and Subscribe to Classical Music Happy Hour wherever you get your podcasts.  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.