Jungfer Marianne Leitmetzerin (not pictured) congratulates Countervail for the best attempt at identifying the “Brass Divas.”

The full roster of belters, wailers and croakers heard on the quiz is as follows:

01 – “Co-Star” Introduction – Tallulah Bankhead
02 – “It’s Good to Be Here” – Ethel Merman (from Happy Hunting)
03 – “Today I Love Everybody” – Kaye Stevens
04 – “I Travel Light” – Lisa Kirk (Live at the Persian Room)
05 – “Everybody Loves to Take a Bow” – Benay Venuta (from Hazel Flagg)
06 – “Turn Me Loose on Broadway” – Bette Davis (from Two’s Company)
07 – “It’s Good to Do a Lot of Living” – Charlene Bartley
08 – “Lonely Woman” – June Christy
09 – “Sei gut zu Mama” – Isabel Weiken (from Chicago)
10 – “Wenn es Nacht wird in Paris” – Caterina Valente
11 – “You Go to My Head” – Tallulah Bankhead (incomplete unpublished private demo recording)
12 – “Thanks a Lot, But No Thanks” – Dolores Gray (from It’s Always Fair Weather)
13 – “Téléphonez-moi” – Katyna Renieri
14 – “Santiago” – Vikki Carr
15 – “Anything Goes” – Lisa Kirk (Live at the Persian Room; freely adapted from Cole Porter’s Anything Goes)
16 – “Diamond’s Are a Girl’s Best Friend” – Lena Horne (from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)
17 – “Men” – Susan Johnson (from Whoop-Up)
18 – “The Pleasure Seekers” – Ann-Margret (from The Pleasure Seekers)
19 – “Das Chicago Song” – Madeline Kahn (from New Faces of 1968)
20 – “Sex” – Neile Adams
21 – “Light My Fire” – Shirley Bassey
22 – “What Does It Take?” – Jane Morgan
23 – Good Night – Katyna Renieri

To all the rest of the parterrians, La Cieca will leave you with this.

 

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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