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.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Bryn Terfel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deja que tu corazón sea luz
A partir de ahora, nuestros problemas estarán fuera de la vista.
Dejarse una feliz Navidad poco,
Hacer el gay navideño,
A partir de ahora, nuestros problemas serán millas de distancia.
Aquí estamos como en los viejos tiempos,
Feliz día de oro de antaño.
Reúne cerca de nosotros una vez más.
A través de los años todos vamos a estar juntos,
Si los hados lo permiten; colgar una estrella brilla sobre la más alta rama.
Y tiene usted mismo un Feliz pequeño Navidad ahora.
Aquí estamos como en los viejos tiempos,
Feliz día de oro de antaño.
Fieles amigos que son queridos para nosotros
Reúne cerca de nosotros una vez más.
A través de los años todos vamos a estar juntos,
Si los hados lo permiten; colgar una estrella brilla sobre la más alta rama.
Y tiene usted mismo un Feliz pequeño Navidad ahora.
The song "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" is about making the best of a difficult situation during the holiday season. The first two lines of the song roughly translate to "Have yourself a merry little Christmas / Let your heart be light." The singer is encouraging the listener to try to find joy in the holiday despite any issues or sadness they may be feeling. The third line, "From now on, our troubles will be out of sight," suggests that the singer and listener should put their problems aside and just focus on enjoying the holiday season.
The second verse talks about gathering together with loved ones who may not always be around. The lyrics "Through the years, we all will be together / If the fates allow / Hang a shining star upon the highest bough" indicate a hope for togetherness and happiness in the future. The final line of the verse, "And have yourself a merry little Christmas now," returns to the theme of finding joy in the present moment.
Overall, the song acknowledges the difficulties of the holiday season while also encouraging listeners to find happiness in the present moment, be grateful for the people they love, and hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Wish for a joyous and cheerful Christmas
Let your heart be light
May your heart be filled with happiness and positivity
From now on our troubles will be out of sight
Let's forget our worries and sorrows and enjoy the moment
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Wish for a joyous and cheerful Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
Let's celebrate the Christmas season with joy and happiness
From now on our troubles will be miles away
Let's leave behind all our problems and embrace the festive spirit
Here we are as in olden days
We are back in time as we used to celebrate Christmas in the past
Happy golden days of yore
Reminiscing the happy times of the past
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Our close and loyal friends who are valuable to us
Gather near to us once more
Let's come together and celebrate this festive season once again
Through the years we all will be together
We will stay united and celebrate Christmas every year
If the fates allow
If everything goes well
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
Let's decorate the highest branch of the Christmas tree with a bright star
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Enjoy the festive season and have a happy Christmas
Here we are as in olden days
We are back in time celebrating Christmas as we used to
Happy golden days of yore
Reminiscing the happy times of the past
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Our close and loyal friends who are valuable to us
Gather near to us once more
Let's come together and celebrate this festive season once again
Through the years we all will be together
We will stay united and celebrate Christmas every year
If the fates allow
If everything goes well
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough
Let's decorate the highest branch of the Christmas tree with a bright star
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Enjoy the festive season and have a happy Christmas
Contributed by Harper N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.