Well done all of you for guessing almost all the correct identities of the mysterious Ortruden. The identity of the winner (and of all 13 howling witches) will be revealed after the jump.  

The most nearly correct guesser is Feldmarschallin (not pictured) with 12 correct out of 13 and an earlier timestamp than the similarly approximate stevey.

And the 13 Ortruds, in order, were…

  1. Christa Ludwig Teatro Colon 1964
  2. Christine Goerke Houston 2009
  3. Evelyn Herlitzius La Scala 2012
  4. Eva Marton Met 1984
  5. Margaret Harshaw Met 1959
  6. Rita Gorr Bayreuth 1959
  7. Elena Nicolai Naples 1954
  8. Astrid Varnay Bayreuth 1954
  9. Deborah Polaski Met 1998
  10. Waltraud Meier Berlin 1993
  11. Ruth Hesse Tokyo 1970
  12. Ursula Schröder-Feinen Bayreuth 1972
  13. Marjorie Lawrence Met 1935

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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