Britten & Contemporaries, episode 10. Paul Bunyan is sometimes called Britten’s “finger practice” for his Peter Grimes opera. An impression.
William Schuman, a contemporary of Britten and former principal of the Juilliard School of Music, wrote as many as 10 symphonies, the first two of which he withdrew. But the third one hit the bull’s eye!
Benjamin Britten (GB, 1913 – 1976)
▪ Paul Bunyan (1941)
Dan Dressen (tenor)
Elisabeth Comeaux Nelson (soprano)
Clifton Ware (tenor)
Vern Sutton (tenor)
Philip Brunelle: Plymouth Music Series Minnesota Orchestra & Chorus
CD: EMI 2 17526 2 (2013)
You can find the libretto here.
William Schuman (VS, 1910 – 1992)
▪ Symphony No.3 (1941)
Passacaglia
Fugue
Chorale
Toccata
Gerard Schwarz: Seattle Symphony Orchestra
CD: Naxos 8.559317 (2010)
