{"id":25506,"date":"2023-03-15T13:24:24","date_gmt":"2023-03-15T12:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=181558"},"modified":"2023-03-15T16:33:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T15:33:42","slug":"who-is-bryn-terfel-the-opera-singer-singing-at-king-charless-coronation","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/who-is-bryn-terfel-the-opera-singer-singing-at-king-charless-coronation\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Bryn Terfel, the opera singer singing at King Charles\u2019s coronation?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welsh superstar Bryn Terfel will be performing at the King’s coronation in May. here we take a look at the career and life of the acclaimed bass-baritone <\/p>

By Debbie Graham\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 15 March 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Welsh opera star Bryn Terfel is one of the artists performing at the Coronation of King Charles<\/a><\/strong>. But who is he, and what is he best known for?<\/p>\n

Who is Bryn Terfel?<\/strong><\/h2>\nBryn Terfel is an operatic superstar \u2013 unquestionably the most famous living Welsh operatic bass-baritone and one of the most famous Welsh singers ever<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Towards the start of his singing career, Terfel was most often heard singing Mozart roles \u2013 especially those of Figaro<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0 Don Giovanni<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p>As his career has progressed, though, Bryn Terfel has moved onto heavier roles, in particular those from the operas of <strong><a title=\""Giacomo\" puccini=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/giacomo-puccini\/"\">Puccini<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<a title=\""Richard\" wagner=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/richard-wagner-2\/"\"><strong>Wagner<\/strong><\/a>. His vocal heft has made him a particularly good fit for beefy Wagnerian roles such as <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/guide-wagners-das-rheingold\/"\"><strong>Wotan<\/strong><\/a>, as well as one of opera\u2019s greatest baddies: Scarpia from <em><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/the-best-recordings-of-puccinis-tosca\/"\">Tosca<\/a><\/strong>. <\/em><\/p>\n<ul><li><strong><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/puccinis-tosca-guide\/"\">Puccini\u2019s Tosca: A guide to when and why this dramatic opera was composed<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/best-italian-operas\/"\">Italian operas: 5 of the best to explore after Tosca<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And he has embraced a good deal of non-classical music too, not least\u00a0<strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/stephen-sondheim-master-of-reinvention\/"\">Stephen Sondheim<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s\u00a0<em><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/best-stage-musicals-of-all-time\/"\">Sweeney Todd<\/a><\/strong><\/em>,\u00a0in which he and Emma Thompson made a devilish double-act as the killer barber and his pie-baking accomplice.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Sweeney\" todd=\"\" epiphany=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1T2tmfq8H5o?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<ul><li><a class=\""standard-card-new__article-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/famous-opera-songs\/"\"><strong>10 of the most famous opera songs<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h2>How old is <strong>Bryn Terfel?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Bryn Terfel was born on 9 November 1965 in Caernarfonshire, the son of a farmer. His first language is Welsh. He was taught how to sing by a family friend, beginning with <strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/welsh-songs\/"\">traditional Welsh songs<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>Where did he study?<\/h2>\n<p>After moving to London aged 19, Bryn Terfel studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, winning both the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Prize and the Gold Medal upon graduation.<\/p>\n<p>In 1989 he came second in the <strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/winners-of-bbc-cardiff-singer-of-the-world-a-complete-list-of-winners-of-main-prize-song-prize-and-audience-prize-from-history\/"\">Cardiff Singer of the Year award<\/a><\/strong>, behind Dmitri Hvorostovsky in a close competition which would become known as the <strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/artists\/dmitri-hvorostovsky-and-the-battle-of-the-baritones\/"\">\u2018Battle of the Baritones\u2019<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Bryn\" terfel=\"\" non=\"\" pi=\"\" andrai=\"\" from=\"\" the=\"\" marriage=\"\" of=\"\" figaro=\"\" june=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-aFrzox84jk?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<h2>What was his first operatic role?<\/h2>\n<p>In 1990 Bryn Terfel made his operatic debut as Guglielmo in Mozart\u2019s <strong><i><a title=\""Cos\u00ec\" fan=\"\" tutte=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cos%C3%AC_fan_tutte"\">Cos\u00ec fan tutte<\/a><\/i><\/strong><sup id=\""cite_ref-5"\" class=\""reference"\"\/> for Welsh National Opera.<\/p>\n<h2>When was his big break?<\/h2>\n<p>Bryn Terfel\u2019s big international breakthrough came in 1992, when he sang Jochanaan in <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/richard-strauss\/"\"><strong>Richard Strauss\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> <em>Salome\u00a0<\/em>at the Salzburg Festival.<\/p>\n<p>The year 1992 was a big one for Terfel. He also made his <a title=\""Royal\" opera=\"\" house=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Opera_House"\">Royal Opera House<\/a> debut that year, playing the role of Masetto in <i><a title=\""Don\" giovanni=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Don_Giovanni"\">Don Giovanni<\/a><\/i>. That same year, Terfel took his first bow at the <strong><a title=\""Salzburg\" easter=\"\" festival=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salzburg_Easter_Festival"\">Salzburg Easter Festival<\/a>,<\/strong> singing the role of the Spirit Messenger in Strauss\u2019s <i>Die Frau ohne Schatten <\/i>(\u2018The Woman without a Shadow\u2019). He also made his <strong><a title=\""Vienna\" state=\"\" opera=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vienna_State_Opera"\">Vienna State Opera<\/a><\/strong> debut that year, singing Figaro, and his\u00a0US concert debut singing in <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/gustav-mahler\/"\"><strong>Mahler<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s\u00a0Eighth Symphony\u00a0with the\u00a0Chicago Symphony Orchestra under <a title=\""James\" levine=\"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/conductor-james-levine-dies-aged-77\/"\"><strong>James Levine<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Other prestigious roles soon followed and he went onto work with some of the most famous opera companies in the world and performed at some of the most famous opera houses, including Milan\u2019s La Scala.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a class=\""standard-card-newarticle-title"\" href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/which-are-the-best-opera-houses-in-italy\/"\"><strong>Which are the best opera houses in Italy?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h2>Is <strong>Bryn Terfel married?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Terfel has been married twice. His first marriage was to his childhood sweetheart, Lesley. The couple were together from 1987 until 2013 and have three sons.<\/p>\n<p>More recently, in\u00a02019, Terfel married harpist Hannah Stone at Caersalem Newydd Baptist Church in Hannah\u2019s home city of Swansea.<\/p>\n<h2>Does <strong>Bryn Terfel have any children?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>He has three sons from his first marriage, and a daughter with Hannah.<\/p>\n<h2>What are Bryn Terfel\u2019s best recordings?<\/h2>\n<p>Bryn Terfel has recorded plenty of wonderful stuff from the operatic world. Try these for starters:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mozart: Opera Arias<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bryn Terfel \/ English Baroque Soloists \/ John Eliot Gardiner<br\/><em>Deutsche Grammophon<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizerdeals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Mozart-Rodney-Gilfry-Cyndia-Gardiner\\\/dp\\\/B0090GTZJ2\\\/ref=sr_1_5","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"6.3-11.7","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p><strong>Wagner: Orchestral Music; Arias<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Bryn Terfel \/ Swedish Radio Chorus \/ Berlin Philharmonic \/ Claudio Abbado<br\/><em>Deutsche Grammophon<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizerdeals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Wagner-Berliner-Philharmoniker-Claudio-Swedish\\\/dp\\\/B00690LYU0\\\/ref=sr_1_15","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"8.4-15.6","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p>For a general introduction to Bryn\u2019s art, try this excellent two-CD primer, featuring beautiful renditions of a mix of opera standards and popular songs such as <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/amazing-grace-lyrics\/"\"><strong>\u2018Amazing Grace\u2019<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Art of Bryn Terfel<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Deutsche Grammophon<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizerdeals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Art-Bryn-Terfel\\\/dp\\\/B0083G0AQW\\\/ref=sr_1_1","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"8.4-15.6","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>And, especially for all our Welsh readers, try this introduction to some of Wales\u2019s finest folk songs, including <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/men-of-harlech-lyrics\/"\"><strong>\u2018Men of Harlech\u2019<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/welsh-national-anthem-lyrics\/"\"><strong>\u2018Land of My Fathers\u2019<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><strong>We\u2019ll Keep a Welcome<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Orchestra of Welsh National Opera \/ Gareth Jones<br\/><em>Deutsche Grammophon<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizerprice-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizerdeals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Welcome-Terfel-Orchestra-National-Gareth\\\/dp\\\/B00004XRY8\\\/ref=d_pd_sim_sccl_3_2\\\/257-7270948-0318640","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"4.2-7.8","sid":"term-classicalmusic-5-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p>\u00a0<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Welsh superstar Bryn Terfel will be performing at the King’s coronation in May. here we take a look at the career and life of the acclaimed bass-baritone 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superstar Bryn Terfel will be performing at the King's coronation in May. here we take a look at the career and life of the acclaimed 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