This episode, and the next, are focused on the topic of opera. Specifically, Philip Brunelle’s 17 year tenure as Music Director at Center Opera — which later became Minnesota Opera. It’s a fascinating journey akin today's technology start ups, filled with lots of musical entrepreneurialism.
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Music excerpts in Episode 06 include (in order of appearance):
"Quartet Of Swedes - Swedish Born And Swedish Bred" by Benjamin Britten, performed by The Plymouth Music Series (now Vocal Essence) from Britten’s opera Paul Bunyan conducted by Philip Brunelle for Virgin Classics (1987)
"Deo Dicamus Gratias" sung by the Plymouth Congregational Church choir off the album Praise And Thanksgiving: Music And Spoken Word, conducted by Philip Brunelle (2006)
"Tocotta In F Major" for organ by Charles-Marie Widor, performed by Philip Brunelle off the album Make A Joyful Noise (1998)
“Presto e leggero, quasi scherzo” from Peter Quince at the Clavier, for mixed chorus & piano concertante by Dominick Argento, performed by Christopher O'Riley (piano) and the Vocal Essence Ensemble Singers (Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota Ensemble Singers) conducted by Philip Brunelle, off the record Dominick Argento: An American Romantic, Collins Records (1998)
“Hooray for the Cowboys” (arr. N. Luboff) from the album The Songs We Sang: Favorite American Folk Songs, performed by the Vocal Essence Ensemble Singers, conducted by Philip Brunelle (2007)
“Cooks' Duet: Sam For Soups. Ben For Beans.” by Benjamin Britten, performed by The Plymouth Music Series (now Vocal Essence) from Britten’s opera Paul Bunyan conducted by Philip Brunelle for Virgin Classics (1987)
“Tumbling Tumbleweeds” (arr. N. Luboff) from the album The Songs We Sang: Favorite American Folk Songs, performed by the Vocal Essence Ensemble Singers, conducted by Philip Brunelle (2007)