Bryn Terfel at 50: ‘I hope it will continue’

Bryn Terfel at 50: ‘I hope it will continue’

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norman lebrecht

November 08, 2015

The golden baritone has given an interview to Welsh media, ahead of his 50th birthday tomorrow (Monday).

The best advice he’s ever been given? ‘Grow your hair (I looked like a farmer early on).’ But he’s counting no chickens.

Read the full interview here.

bryn terfel

Comments

  • Will says:

    Does the possession of a very loud stentorian voice make you a good musician?
    Does it give you the right to refuse to sing Mendelssohn with one of the UK’s most distinguished ‘HIPP’ conductors? ( now sadly deceased)

  • Robert King says:

    With the greatest respect to Will, performers who have very busy diaries will often turn down all sorts of tempting offers to work with terrifically famous orchestras and/or conductors – because they are busy. (That notwithstanding, Bryn’s existing Elijah recording with period instruments is a fine one).

  • Peter Phillips says:

    Will has forgotten that Bryn Terfel won the lieder prize at the Cardiff Singer of the World. Nor, clearly, did he hear or see him as Hans Sachs in the WNO Meistersinger.

  • Ks. Christopher Robson says:

    I don’t quite understand where Will is coming from with his remarks. As Robert King points out: “performers who have very busy diaries will often turn down all sorts of tempting offers to work with terrifically famous orchestras and/or conductors – because they are busy.” If Bryn turned down an engagement with “..one of the UK’s most distinguished ‘HIPP’ conductors? ( now sadly deceased)”, then I am sure that there would have been a very good reason for him to do so.

    As for his singing – well maybe Will’s ears are not as acute in their abilities as they might be. Bryn is an utterly consummate musician and artist, a singer of great skill who sometimes utilises a “stentorian” voice when he feels it is necessary, and who brings a marvellous range of colour and intent to all he does. He is as fine a Lieder singer as he is a dramatic and lyric Wagnerian, as smooth a “standards” crooner as he is a deft Mozartian, and (which I will personally vouch for, as will probably ALL of my colleagues/friends who have worked with him and know him personally) he is someone who takes great care with every piece of music he performs.

    He is also, and always refreshingly so, a very nice man, a very generous work colleague, and thankfully a completely down to earth human being who knows his own limitations personally & professionally and who is compassionately tolerant of those who are ignorant of their own.

    So, Will, go and have your ears checked and perhaps, at the same time, think about how you might like to justify your rather mean comment above with a more substantial explanation.

    Rant over 🙂

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