Owen Brannigan
Biography
Owen Brannigan OBE (10 March 1908 – 9 May 1973) was an English bass, known in opera for buffo roles and in concert for a wide range of solo parts in music ranging from Henry Purcell to Michael Tippett. He is best remembered for his roles in Mozart and Britten operas and for his recordings of roles in Britten, Offenbach and Gilbert and Sullivan operas, as well as recordings of English folk songs. Brannigan began as an amateur singer and attended music college part-time, while working as a joiner, until his quality was recognised and he was awarded a scholarship during World War II. Although he had an international opera career, he performed most frequently with English opera companies, particularly Sadler's Wells opera, and later at Glyndebourne and Covent Garden. Highlights of his broad repertory included creating three roles in Benjamin Britten's early operas, and two more in later Britten operas that were written specifically for him. On record and in concert at the Proms he was a popular interpreter of the bass-baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Brannigan's oratorio and concert repertory was extensive, covering works from many periods.
Bio from Wikipedia
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.
Credited work
523 releases · 71 albums · active 1951–2025
- Performance · 603
- Other credits · 40
Studios: Walthamstow Assembly Hall · St. Bartholomew's Church, Orford · Kingsway Hall · Royal Festival Hall
Frequent collaborators
- Gilbert & Sullivan
- Benjamin Britten
- Handel
- Britten
- Various
- Gerard Hoffnung
- Cavalli
- Gilbert And Sullivan