Everything You Need to Know about Wagner ...

Anna Russell, who passed away at age 94 in October 2006, was a musical parodist and composer of such memorable songs as "Don Bonzo Alfonzo the Matador (with Castanets)," "I'd be a Red-Hot Mama if I hadn't got these Varicose Veins," and the aria, "Ah, Lover," from the mythical operetta "The Prince of Philadelphia, For Singers with Tremendous Artistry but no Voice," with a German lied, "Schlumpf," and a French chanson, "Je n'ai pas la plume de ma tante." In one of her famous skits, she told us everything we need to know about Wagner's Ring Cycle of operas:



The skit continued:



And then:



Is there anyone on the music scene today quite like the late, lamented Anna Russell. I don't think so!