Product Details

• Actors: Anna Russell, Rober Rosenberger
• Directors: Phillip Byrd
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Video Artists Int'l
• DVD Release Date: October 9, 2001
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005R5G5
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,272 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
To end a long, hilarious career, classical music comedienne Anna Russell revived some of her best and funniest routines and took them on the road. This special PBS production, taped in Baltimore at the beginning of that 1984 tour, is a treasure for music lovers who understand that the thing they love can be charmingly goofy.

The highlight of the disc, and the routine that most fans remember most fondly, is her discussion of the Ring cycle. She tells the convoluted story of Wagner's four-installment epic, with careful attention to its absurdities, and she sings all the roles in a voice ranging shakily but with determination through soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. She does the same in her parody of a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, and the advantage of a video recording becomes obvious when she changes funny hats while singing to show whether she is acting the heroine, villain, or chorus. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 84 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of her Classic Routines, February 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: First Farewell Concert [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video, billed as Ms. Russell's "First Farewell Concert," features almost all of her best routines including: a lecture in her series "Wind Instruments I Have Known," "How to Write Your Own Gilbert & Sullivan," and "The history of the Folksong." Of course, no Anna Russell collection would be complete without her analysis of Wagner's "Ring der Nibelungen." Creating great parody requires even greater knowledge of the subject being parodied, and Anna Russell, having studied at the Royal College of Music, is well qualified. The only other routine I would have liked to see on this tape would be "Introduction to the Concert (By the Women's Club President)." Truly classic Anna Russell! I'm glad this only the "First" farewell condert. I'm looking forward to many more. P.S.-- During the last folksong, look for a famous newscaster in the audience.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anna Russell's Farewell is bittersweet, August 9, 2006

By	Tess Goodwin "Tess" (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

I know Anna Russell exclusively from earlier audio-only recordings which I have listened to many times and practically memorized. While it was terrific for me to see the ole gal in action, she is clearly not "up to speed" and the result is more sentimental than otherwise. Still I recommend her as one of the "greats" who has not had nearly enough American exposure. God Bless Her Majesty of Mirth.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ANNA RUSSELL... A FUNNY LADY, February 21, 2006

By	G. Faulkner (toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have listened for years to Anna Russell's great monologues of Wagner's operas or Gilbert & Sullivan's operettas,etc... and I thought that seeing her on DVD would be a bonus... But although she was entertaining, I think that I prefer the audio cassettes and let my imagination draw the pictures...