Bryn Terfel

Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel was born in Pant Glas, Caernarfonshire in 1965 to a farming family whose first language is Welsh. As a young singer he won numerous competitions and eventually entered London's Guildhall School of Music in 1984 where he studied under German vocal tutor Rudolph Piernay. He made his debut with the English National Opera in 1991 performing the title role in 'The Marriage of Figaro' and later that year made his first international appearances including a performance as Figaro at the Santa Fe Opera in the US.

Although initially closely associated with the works of Mozart, in particular 'The Marriage of Figaro' and 'Don Giovanni', as his career progressed Terfel extended his repertoire to include some more difficult roles and has become known for his powerful renditions of Wagner.

Terfel is a popular and influential figure in the world of opera and passionate about his Welsh homeland. He has established 'Brynfest', an internationally renowned music festival in Snowdonia which each year features top names from the world of classical music and opera.