The Great Anna Russell

[ucanseetheend]

Many of you may have heard of Anna Russell, English–Canadian singer and comedienne. She gave many concerts in which she sang and played comic musical sketches on the piano. Among her best-known works are her concert performances and famous recordings of The Ring of the Nibelungs – a humorous 30-minute synopsis of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen which is what I knew her by.
But thanks to online music I found out about many more of her sketches performed live , She was quite brilliant as well as having quite a good operatic voice and did sing professionally, one incident being an appearance as a substitute Santuzza in a British touring production of Cavalleria Rusticana, where she tripped on a set piece and pulled it down – an event later used in her comedy. Does anyone have any particular favorite line or sketch of Anna's? If you haven't heard of her please check her out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Russell

Moderator, can move this to platform 3 or the correct board, I tried to delete on here but couldnt find a way to.

[makropulos]

Many of you may have heard of Anna Russell, English–Canadian singer and comedienne. She gave many concerts in which she sang and played comic musical sketches on the piano. Among her best-known works are her concert performances and famous recordings of The Ring of the Nibelungs – a humorous 30-minute synopsis of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen which is what I knew her by.
But thanks to online music I found out about many more of her sketches performed live , She was quite brilliant as well as having quite a good operatic voice and did sing professionally, one incident being an appearance as a substitute Santuzza in a British touring production of Cavalleria Rusticana, where she tripped on a set piece and pulled it down – an event later used in her comedy. Does anyone have any particular favorite line or sketch of Anna's? If you haven't heard of her please check her out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Russell

Moderator, can move this to platform 3 or the correct board, I tried to delete on here but couldnt find a way to.

What a nice coincidence - I've just got hold of a copy of her autobiography, called "I'm not making this up, you know". Of the Anna Russell sketches I know, the Ring synopsis is still one of the most hilarious, but I also love "How To Write Your Own Gilbert and Sullivan Opera" (and I say that as someone who adores real G & S). Incidentally, Spotify users will find lots of Anna Russell sketches there.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh so many!

The despairing "I'm not making any of this up!" when describing some of the plot details of The Ring

The line in Make Your own G & S Opera mentioning how the comic lead always gives a series of encores "Whether the Audience want him to or not."

The Chair of the Women's Institute chastizing her audience "I think you're being horrible, he's having a terrible time!"

... and, not least, "The English Tenor with no voice but Great Artistry".


(All "quotations" from memory - it's been far too long since I last gave the disc a spin. An early Christmas treat called for ...

[Stanley Stewart]

Yes, an early Christmas treat, indeed. I'm referring to a VAI video, "The First Farewell Concert - Anna Russell" recorded 'live' at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Nov 7, 1984 with Robert Rosenberger, piano. Of course, I've also transferred this uproarious 85 mins concert to DVD for preservation.

How to Become a Singer - A G & S Operetta
Wind Instruments I have Known - The 'Ring Cycle'
On Pink Chiffon - (video is in colour) - 'Jolly Old Sigmund Freud'
and Other Folk Tunes

She was rightly called "The crown princess of musical parody".

[salymap]

And someone or other meeting the first woman who wasn't his Aunt. I have several Cds of her, including 'Anna Russell Encore' and the 'Anna Russell Album'. I love'Singers with Tremendous Artistry but No Voice'.

[umslopogaas]

A school-friend's parents had one of her LPs. That was back in the mid nineteen sixties. Its more than forty years since I heard it, but I can still remember laughing at her spoof on 'The Ring'. "The scene opens in the river Rhine ... yes, IN IT!"

[Ferretfancy]

salymap

I think that 'No voice, but tremendous artistry" referred specifically to the art of French chanson, and it still comes to mind when I hear somebody warbling Faure or whatever!

[Sarah]

Well, well, having recently tried to listen to a Wagner opera on Radio 3, I remembered the wonderful Ring Cycle from the amazing Anna Russell and I was lucky enough to receive the Farewell Concert on DVD for Christmas. So of course I had to watch it! I saw this wonderful woman at the Savoy theatre when I was very small. I may have been very young but I appreciated her true talent even so. Having ploughed her way through a lengthy explanation of the opera, Anna Russell refers back to Alberich and says 'Remember him?!' There are too many funny lines to mention in my humble opinion. What an interesting discussion that reignites the spirit of this legendary comedienne.

[Norfolk Born]

Welcome to the Forum, Sarah!