Bryn Terfel
November 9, 1965 - Pantglas (Wales)
About
The Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel rose to prominence when he won the Lieder Prize in the 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. He has performed in all the great opera houses of the world, and is especially recognised for his portrayals of Figaro and Falstaff. His other roles include Don Giovanni, Leporello, Jochanaan, Nick Shadow, Wolfram, Balstrode, the four villains in Contes d’Hoffmann, Dulcamara, Sweeney Todd, Méphistophélès, Gianni Schicchi, Wotan and Der Fliegende Holländer.
Bryn is also known for his versatility as a concert performer, with highlights ranging from the opening ceremony of the Wales Millennium Centre to Last Night of the Proms and the Royal Variety Show. He has given recitals in the major cities of the world and hosts his own festival every year in Faenol, North Wales.
He is one of his generation’s foremost recitalists and is a Grammy-winning recording artist, with a discography encompassing operas of Mozart, Wagner and Strauss, as well as more than ten solo discs including Lieder, American musical theatre, Welsh songs and sacred repertory.
In 2003, Bryn was awarded a CBE for services to Opera in the Queen’s New Year Honours list and in 2006 was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music by Her Majesty The Queen. In 2009, he sang in Don Giovanni at the Verbier Festival.
