Bryn Terfel Jones was born in Pantglas, North Wales, the son of a farmer (he knew of another Welsh baritone named Delme Bryn-Jones, so Terfel chose Bryn Terfel as his professional name). Terfel had an interest in and talent for music from a very young age. A family friend taught him how to sing, starting with traditional Welsh songs. After winning numerous competitions for his singing, Terfel moved to London in 1984 and entered the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, from which he graduated in 1989, winning the Gold Medal. He came in second behind Dmitri Hvorostovsky in the Cardiff BBC Singer of the World Competition the same year, though won the Lieder Prize.
In 1990, Terfel made his operatic début as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte at the Welsh National Opera, and later in the same season he sang the title role in The Marriage of Figaro, a role with which he made his debut with the English National Opera in 1991.
Terfel made his United States début as Figaro at the Santa Fe Opera. In 1992, he made his Royal Opera House, Covent Garden début as Masetto in Don Giovanni, with Thomas Allen in the title role. Terfel's international breakthrough came when he sang Jochanaan in Strauss's Salome at the 1992 Salzburg Festival. Terfel went on to make his début as Figaro at the Vienna State Opera. That year, he also signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon, and returned to the Welsh National Opera to sing Ford in Falstaff. In 1993, he recorded the role of Wilfred Shadbolt in The Yeomen of the Guard, by Gilbert and Sullivan. Terfel has said that he would like to record "an album of Gilbert and Sullivan arias."
In 1994, Terfel sang Figaro at Covent Garden, and made his Metropolitan Opera début in the same role. He also sang Mahler's Eighth Symphony at the Ravinia Festival under the baton of James Levine. However, back surgery in 1994 (and again in 2000) prevented him from performing in several scheduled events. In 1996, Terfel expanded his repertoire to include Wagner, singing Wolfram in Tannhäuser at the Metropolitan Opera, and Stravinsky, singing Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress at the Welsh National Opera.
In 1997, Terfel made his La Scala début as Figaro. In 1998, Bryn had a recital at Carnegie Hall which included works by Wolf, Fauré, Brahms, Schumann, Schubert, and others. In 1999, Terfel performed in Paris the title role of Don Giovanni for the first time. That year, Terfel also debuted in the title role in Falstaff at the Sydney Opera House for Opera Australia and then performed the same role at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Candlelight Carol
Bryn Terfel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How do you measure the love of a mother
Or how can you write down a baby's first cry?
Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright
Angels are singing; the Christ child is born
Seraphim round him their vigil will keep
Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Saviour
Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright
Angels are singing; the Christ child is born
Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger
Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
A child with his mother that first Christmas Day
Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright
Angels are singing; the Christ child is born
The song Candlelight Carol by Bryn Terfel is a hymn that celebrates the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ. The opening lines are a rhetorical question expressing the impossibility of capturing the beauty of nature and measuring the depth of the human emotions. However, the song asserts that the light of candle, angel, fire, and star can shine on the baby Jesus, illuminating his cradle until dawn. The song then transitions to the story of the nativity where the shepherds and wise men come to kneel and adore Jesus, while Seraphim keeps a vigil around him. The final verse reveals the location of Christ's birth, in the manger in Bethlehem, with his mother. The song ends with a triumphant statement that the Christ child is born and angels are singing.
The song Candlelight Carol is able to convey the powerful emotions of the birth of Jesus Christ through its simple and beautiful lyrics. The diverse imagery of different lights, angels, and singing creates a sense of wonder and magic around the birth of Jesus. The song has been performed by many famous singers, including choir groups and soloists, and is still a popular choice for Christmas carols.
Line by Line Meaning
How do you capture the wind on the water?
How can you grasp or understand something as intangible as the wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How can you comprehend or quantify something as numerous and vast as the stars in the sky?
How do you measure the love of a mother
How can you gauge or fully comprehend the depth and extent of a mother's love?
Or how can you write down a baby's first cry?
How can you articulate or convey the profound emotion and significance of a baby's first cry?
Candlelight, angel light, firelight and star-glow
These are various forms of light that illuminate and symbolize the presence and beauty of the Christ child.
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
May these lights continue to glow and radiate until morning breaks and a new day begins.
Silent night, holy night, all is calm and all is bright
The night of Jesus' birth is serene, sacred, and filled with light.
Angels are singing; the Christ child is born
The angels rejoice and sing to announce the birth of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah.
Shepherds and wise men will kneel and adore him
Even those from humble or foreign backgrounds will show reverence and worship to the newborn King.
Seraphim round him their vigil will keep
The highest order of angels will guard and watch over the Christ child.
Nations proclaim him their Lord and their Saviour
People from all nations recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior, bringing hope and salvation to all.
Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger
Discover the Christ child in Bethlehem, lying in a humble feeding trough.
Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay
Jesus, who will redeem us from sin and death, sleeps peacefully in a bed of hay.
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
Jesus is the physical embodiment of God and the source of our salvation and hope.
A child with his mother that first Christmas Day
The newborn King is a vulnerable child, cradled in his mother's arms.
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.