Fennell appearing with the assembled performing forces on-stage at Northrop Auditorium (Minneapolis) for the first Minneapolis performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana on December 9th, 1962. The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra was joined in performance by the Macalester College Choir (Johannes Dahle, director) and by soloists Mary Ellen Jenkins, soprano; Walter Cherwin, tenor; and Norman Abelson, bass. It had been Fennell’s own intention to program this work during his first season at Minneapolis. A clue to the ovation accorded the performance may be found in Fennell’s diary entry for December 9th, where he wrote one single word: “Smash!”.