Humorist Anna Russell, aged 94, dies. - Democratic Underground

CBHagman

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Mon Oct-23-06 10:25 AM
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Humorist Anna Russell, aged 94, dies.

The classically trained singer delighted audiences with her droll and irreverent examinations of classical music.

Okay, I can't be the only one here to have heard Anna Russell's thoughts on Wagner's Ring Cycle ("You remember the Rhine, don't you?"). Classic Arts Showcase occasionally airs clips of her talks, and of course some of the recordings should be available.

Her spirit lives on!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/20/AR2006102001598.html

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Lydia Leftcoast

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Mon Oct-23-06 08:38 PM
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1. I saw her in person in Boston in about 1979 or 1980

She not only did her Ring cycle ("Now Siegfried has never met a woman who wasn't his aunt--I'm not making this up you know"). but also made up new words to the trio from Nabucco, and imitated a child playing Mozart's Turkish March.

The first time she sat down at the piano bench, she hoisted her leg over it as if mounting a horse. "I sit down this way because it's more Wagnerian."

A true original!

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swimboy

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Fri Oct-27-06 11:02 AM
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2. I found her album in the Music Library when I was in college.

I thought she was a hoot. I'll never forget her chanson "My heart has dish-pan hands" I need to get my Anna Russell CD out this weekend and have another listen.

Requiem in Pace

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Turbineguy

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Wed Nov-21-07 02:25 PM
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3. Everything I know about

Wagner's operas, I learned from her.

OK, Prof. Peter Schikele educated me too. Oh, and Victor Borge (glug, glug, glug glug glug glug).

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Rabrrrrrr

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Fri Dec-28-07 09:27 AM
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4. A brilliant, funny, and wonderful humorist!

Her Wagner Ring Cycle is my fave, of course, but also love "How to write your own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera".

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CBHagman

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Tue Jan-01-08 08:05 PM
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5. There are more CDs out than I'd thought!

There's that one Sony put out with the valkyrie on the cover, of course, which I've seen in stores, but then there's Anna Russell Again? For some reason I only saw that one recently.

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