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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1982)
Princess of parody comes to A&M At Ease, The Battalion Friday, October 29, 1982 3 Anna Russell to voice her attack by Dana Smelser Battalion Staff Anna Russell was a lumpy British schoolgirl. Her heart was set on becoming an opera sin ger. But there was one problem: her voice. She studied music seriously at the Royal College of Music in London, But when her voice was declared “an inferior organ” by her music instructor, she turned her talents to parody. And the rest is history. The “crown princess of musical parody, “ as described by Time Magazine, will lam poon the classical music scene November 6 in Rudder Audi torium. Although she has a rigorous training in classical music, Rus sell has made a career by show ing how stuffy and tedious clas sical music can be. She is prob ably best-known for her 20- minute pardody of Richard Wagner's Ring cycle, a series of four operas by the German com poser. Russell's rendention is the only grand opera in the world that comes in the giant economy package. Russell's routines, all of which she writes herself, might best be described as a cross be tween a musicology lecture and a nightclub act. She aims her guns at English folk music, French art songs, German lied- er, Italian opera and Gilbert and Sullivan. No style, period or composer is spared from her attack. The Canadian-born com edienne, 70, has served up tan- gy tidbits of her humor for 35 years and it all happened by accident. She was living in Canada and was asked to pre pare some comic routines for a fund-raising concert by the Toronto Symphony. A take-off on Wagner's Ring cycle was the result, and it became one of the most celebrated spoofs in music history. Recordings and a major career followed. After playing in America from coast-to-coast for two decades, Russell retired to Australia where she did some television and radio shows. She also wrote a bi-weekly article for the Mel bourne Sun. Russell began touring again, however, and left Australia for Toronto where she mow makes her home. On her tour, Russell is accom- ponied by pianist Frank Barth olomew, who has been perform ing with her for the last 23 years. If you want to see musical sa tire of the highest quality, then visit Rudder Auditorium on November 6 at 8 p.m. when Anna Russell takes the stage. Tickets are $4.50, $5.75, and $7.25 for students and $5.25, $6.75, and $8.50 for non students. The tickets may be bought at the MSC Box Office. Anna Russell New wavers should go on Rhino hunt Adrien Belew, Lone Rhino, Is land Although this album has been out a couple of months. Lone Rhino is just beginning to catch on. The main reason for this is "Big Electric Cat," a modern man-loves-car adaptation which sounds like a duet for a chain saw and weed-eater. The big electric cat is a car that obviously must be seen to be be lieved, as Belew proudly proc laims, "Wherever she parks, the concrete crumbles and the night rumbles." Maybe you haven't heard of Adrian Belew. Lone Rhino is his first solo venture after an already-illustrious career play ing guitar for Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Talking Heads and King Crimson. It's obvious that David Byrn has influenced his vocal style and Robert Fripp has taught him some interesting guitar effects. This is evident on “The Momur," which weaves a strange and wonderous tale ab out his wife who periodically transforms into an uncontroll able beast. In one instance “she backed me into a corner, tried to kill me with a broom and shouted personal remarks across the living room." Lone Rhino is packed with Zappa-like tunes: “Stop It," “Adidas in Heat," and the title cut, a pitiful tale of longing ab out a zoo rhino who says “I'll never see my good old mud- bath." "Hot Sun and “Native Guitar" are instrumental inter ludes, but unlike the fillers found on Zappa's albums, are fine examples of technical exper tise in creating purely emotive guitar passages. Musical weekend planned by Basement Committee The MSC Basement Commit tee will provide a variety of musical entertainment this weekend when Zen Archer and X-Spand-X take to the stage. Friday night, Zen Archer, a rock band from Houston, will perform in Room 212 of the MSC. Although the committee usually holds its concerts in Rumours, they moved the per formance to a larger room in order to hold the large crowds they anticipate at this event. Tickets will be $1 at the door. X-Spand-X, a new wave band will be MSC Basement Commit tee's guest Saturday night. This four-piece band plays the kind of easy, fun music that lends itself to listening and dancing. As one of Austin's most popular progressive bands, X-Spand-X boasts an ex tensive repertoire of tunes and original songs. The band has performed at Club Foot and the Back Room in Austin, and in numerous clubs in Houston. This concert will also be in 212 MSC and tickets will be $2 at the door. Both concerts are part of the Miller High Life '82 Rock series. Another moving example is “Man in the Moon," which is dedicated to Belew's late father. David Bowie's influence on the vocals is undeniable. If you're a new wave enthu siast (is new wave still new?). you'll like Belew. Lone Rhino is an absolutely wonderful collec tion of various styles that is well- worth hunting for. In these days of mechanical music. Lone Rhi no is a dying breed. — Vic Sylvia iamond Room 3731 E 29th 846-4708 Bryan 707 Shopping Village 693-7444 College Station