Bryn Terfel
One of the world's most renowned opera stars.
- Born:
-
9
NOV
1965
- Place of Birth:
- Bangor
- School:
- Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle
- Trivia:
- Bryn Terfel counts amongst some of his finest moments singing at the opening of the Rugby World Cup in Cardiff with Shirley Bassey, and performing Rule Britannia at the Last Night of the Proms with a cuddly dragon under his arm. If there were to be an opera of Harry Potter he'd love to play Hagrid.
- Biography:
-
Bryn Terfel Jones is one of the most recognisable opera stars and has gained worldwide success with his famous bass-baritone voice.
Born the second son of Hefin and Nesta Jones, Bryn was raised at Fferm Nant Cyll Ucha, Pant Glas, Garndolbenmaen. He showed a talent for singing from when he was four years old, and began lessons with family friend, Selyf Jones. He had won countless local, Urdd and National Eisteddfod titles by the time he left school and enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music, London, in 1984. There he first worked with his current voice coach, Rudolf Piernay, and won the Guildhall gold medal and the prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship. Critics have noted that the combination of a great voice, immaculate diction, commanding stage presence and flair for acting has made Bryn one of the greatest opera singers around today. He has appeared at all the major opera houses of the world, singing music by composers as diverse as Mozart, and Wagner, Puccini and Stravinsky, Verdi and Britten. Bryn made his operatic debut for the Welsh National Opera as Guglielmo in Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte in 1990 before taking on one of his most famous roles, Figaro, in his American debut with the Santa Fe Opera. The biggest breakthrough of his career came in 1992, when he sang the part of Jochanaan in Salome at the Salzburg Festival, Austria. Since winning Cardiff Singer of the World's Lieder Prize in 1989, Bryn has recorded many albums of songs by Schubert, Schumann and Vaughan Williams. He has also released two CDs of songs from the shows, including work by Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe. Bryn has not forgotten his Welsh roots. He lives with his wife, Leslie, and their three sons in the village of Bontnewydd, near Caernarfon, and has founded his own music event, the Faenol Festival. Stars of opera, pop and the West End have braved the temperamental Gwynedd weather to entertain the crowds over the years. Bryn also played an important part in securing a home for the Welsh National Opera, and performed in The Flying Dutchman at the opening of the Millennium Centre, Cardiff, in 2004. Watch a clip of Bryn competing in the 1978 Cardiff National Eisteddfod.
your comments
Will (Snail) Jones aka Miami Will - Spain
Not only has Bryn got a fantastic voice, he is a perfect gentleman. He is humble and so polite and people around the world can see he speaks from the heart. If we ever need an ambassador for Wales that man should be top of the list. And a little personal message to Bryn, good on you my friend.
Tue Mar 18 08:53:38 2008
Robin Jones from Ottawa
I love Bryn's singing and his CD Simple things but why like so many other famous people(Sir Edward German) did he drop the Jones
Wed Jun 21 09:38:16 2006
Barbara Morgan Herron, Maryland
We were privileged to hear young Bryn perform as the soloist with Cor Meibion Caernarfon at the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu in Baltimore in 1987. Even then, he had star quality, and we've followed his career with great interest over the intervening years. Sir Bryn? It should only be a matter of time.
Tue Mar 21 21:30:33 2006
John born in Bangor
Dave from Caernarfon - Place of birth IS important! And yes, he has a connection with Bangor. He was born there, as his passport will confirm. Oh, and where does he choose to do a concert every year? Yes, I remember now, Bangor isn't it. Amazing performer - keep it up Bryn!
Tue Feb 21 11:29:40 2006
Dave, Caernarfon
Surely the 'place of birth' is irrelevant!
Just because the hospital happens to be in that City does not mean the man from Pant Glas has a connection with it.
C'mon, you can do better than that. Or are we all destined to be Bangor Aye, as thats where the BBC is based?
Wed Nov 30 20:17:55 2005
des a ceinwen morgan brynsiencyn anglesey
da iawn bryn for bringing so many famous and exellent performers right on to our doorstep, we should all be proud of what bryn has done since his first faenol festival, where else in the world can you hear so many wonderful concerts more or less in your back garden , bryn i applaud you for a man who definetly has not lost his roots DA IAWN A DALIER ATI
Thu Oct 20 21:43:05 2005
|
 |
 |
Teithiodd y ffotograffydd John Thomas o gwmpas Cymru yn tynnu lluniau.
|
|
 |
|
|
