I'm Not Making This Up, You Know by Anna Russell

What are your favourite aspects of Russian culture? This year I have been on my year abroad: I spent the first term of the year working at a technology firm in Paris and, since February, I have been studying and interning online with Liden and Denz. Usually, I study French and Russian at Bristol University in the UK. I learned a great deal more about this brilliant performer and recommend the book for fans of classical music.This week I’m checking in with Anna, a current student and intern at Liden and Denz, to chat with her about what inspired her to study Russian, how she has found studying online with Liden and Denz, and to hear about her recent arrival in St Petersburg from the UK! Tell us a bit about yourself… Russell’s fans will enjoy her self-deprecating, yet frank, style of writing. The book takes its readers from Russell’s childhood through her two marriages, various concert, opera and theatre performances and right up to her farewell tour in 1984. Fortunately for those of us who admire Madame Russell’s brilliant musical parodies, her classical education ultimatrely served her quite well. She initially wished to become an opera singe,r but an early field hockey accident resulting in a broken nose also resulted in her voice no longer suiting her intended career. Russell grew up in a rather staid family, although her father was quite musical. Hence, I obtained this book from the library. I was immediately hooked by Russell's comedic rendering and set about obtaining some recordings of her other work, which includes 'How to Write Your Own Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta' (the which has completely ruined me for G&S, I must confess), and a whole series on who to tell the various types of sopranos from one another.Having become fascinated with the artist, I decided that I wanted to learn more about her. It is thanks to the Arts Channel that I was introduced to the brilliant musical parodist, Anna Russell - specifically her 20-minute analysis (completely accurate in detail) of the plot of Wagner's 'Ring Cycle.' This television station dedicates its programming to classical music, ballet, theatre, opera and the like. I am very fortunate, where I live, to have access to something called the Arts Channel.

I'm Not Making This Up, You Know by Anna Russell