About this Artist
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 recognized for his portrayals of Figaro and Falstaff. Other roles include Wotan in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre, Holländer in Der fliegende Holländer, Méphistophélès in Faust, both the title role and Leporello in Don Giovanni, Jochanaan in Salome, Scarpia in Tosca, the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress, Wolfram in Tannhäuser, Balstrode in Peter Grimes, Four Villains in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’Amore and the title role in Sweeney Todd. Highlights in 2010 included Bryn’s debut in the role of Hans Sachs in the critically acclaimed production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for Welsh National Opera. Future operatic plans include Wotan in Wagner’s Ring cycle for Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera, New York.
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. In 2007 he sang the title role in concert performances of Sweeney Todd as part of the re-opening of the Royal Festival Hall, London. He has given recitals in the major cities of the world and hosts his own festival every year in Faenol, North Wales.
He is a Grammy, Classical Brit, and Gramophone Award winner with a discography encompassing operas of Mozart, Wagner, and Strauss, and more than ten solo discs including Lieder, American musical theatre, Welsh songs, and sacred repertory. An album of Christmas Music was released on November 2, 2010.
In 2003, Bryn was made a CBE for services to Opera in the Queen’s New Year Honors list and in 2006 was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music. He is also the last recipient of the Shakespeare Prize by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation, Hamburg.
Bryn is pleased to have an association with several companies, most notably Rolex, Clogau Gold and the Penderyn Distillery.