It's been 50 years since an ambitious young Minnesotan named Philip Brunelle was appointed organist and choirmaster at Minneapolis' Plymouth Congregational Church.
One of his first big decisions was expanding the church's community music program, giving birth to the Plymouth Music Series. The group quickly gained international prominence thanks to its acclaimed recordings of choral and operatic pieces.
Half a century later, Brunelle's music program — now known as VocalEssence — is still going strong. The organization just announced details for its 2018-19 season, its 50th in the choral business.
Unsurprisingly, there's a strong retrospective element, not least in the showcase 50th anniversary concert (Oct. 7). "In the Beginning," Aaron Copland's unaccompanied work for choir and soloist, is a key work on the program — not only because the title is appropriate for the occasion. Its inclusion also marks one of Brunelle's earliest coups, when he tempted Copland to come to Minneapolis in 1970 to lead a concert of the composer's own choral music. Twin Cities mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski will be the soloist. A former member of VocalEssence, she returns to the group as an award-winning recital artist with a blossoming solo career.
Also on the 50th anniversary program are excerpts from Benjamin Britten's "Paul Bunyan." This piece, too, plays a key role in VocalEssence history. The Plymouth Music Series' 1987 recording was the first of the complete operetta, and it established the ensemble's global reputation.
Exciting collaborations
In addition to looking back, the 2018-19 season looks to the future, forging connections with new artists and organizations.
The most exciting development is a co-presentation of Leonard Bernstein's sparkling "Candide" with Minneapolis-based Theater Latté Da (March 21-24, 2019). Latté Da artistic director Peter Rothstein directs this semi-staged production, representing the two organizations' first large-scale project together. Singers Rodolfo Nieto, Liv Redpath and Bradley Greenwald lead a cast that includes the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, with a cameo appearance by VocalEssence associate conductor G. Phillip Shoultz III.
Another collaboration brings the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers — 150 voices in total — together with the 75-member St. Olaf Choir (Oct. 28). Choirs from the two organizations will perform separately and together, combining for Vaughan Williams' resonant Mass in G minor. Written for double choir — two groups of singers with four voice-parts in each group — the mass should make a vivid impression in the imposing Cathedral of St. Paul.
