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.
If Ever I would Leave You
Bryn Terfel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seeing you in summer I never would go.
Your hair streaked with sun-light, your lips red as flame, your face with a luster.
That puts gold to shame.
But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I've seen how you sparkle, when fall nips the air.
And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow
If ever I would leave you, how could it be in spring-time
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so
Oh, no! not in spring-time.
Summer, winter or fall.
No, never could I leave you at all.
No, never could I leave you at all.
In Bryn Terfel's song "If I Loved You," the singer contemplates leaving his beloved, but is unable to do so, regardless of the season. The first stanza suggests that the singer could never leave his love in the summer, as he is entranced by her beauty during this time. The second stanza similarly suggests that the singer could never leave his love in the autumn, as he is enamored by her vibrant energy during this season. The singer cannot bear the thought of leaving his love during the winter, either, when she seems to shine in the snow and near the fire. Finally, the singer declares that he could never leave his love in the spring, as this is the season in which he is most beguiled by her.
The lyrics of "If I Loved You" seem to suggest that the singer is deeply committed to his love, despite any flaws or complications that may arise in the relationship. The mention of each different season highlights the different aspects of his love's personality and beauty that the singer is drawn to. Ultimately, the singer cannot imagine his life without his love, and declares that he could never leave her at all.
Line by Line Meaning
If ever I would leave you, it wouldn't be in summer.
I would never think of leaving you in summer, because that is when you are most beautiful and radiant with the sun and your lips are as red as fire.
Seeing you in summer I never would go.
I could never leave you during the summer months because that is when your beauty and allure is at its height.
Your hair streaked with sun-light, your lips red as flame, your face with a luster.
Your hair shines with the radiance of the sun, your lips are as red as fire, and your face shines with a brightness that puts gold to shame.
But if I'd ever leave you, it couldn't be in autumn.
I could never leave you during the autumn months when the air is crisp and the leaves are changing because I love seeing you in this season.
How I'd leave in autumn I never will know.
I can't even imagine how I would be able to tear myself away from you during the autumn season.
I've seen how you sparkle, when fall nips the air.
I have seen how gorgeous and stunning you look during autumn when the cold air causes your beauty to sparkle and shine.
I know you in autumn, and I must be there.
I can't leave you during the autumn months because that is when you are at your most beautiful and I need to be there to witness it.
And could I leave you running merrily through the snow
I could never leave you during the winter months when you are running happily through the snow because that is when I am most in love with you.
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow
I could never tear myself away from you during a cold winter evening when you are watching the fire with a warm glow illuminating your face.
If ever I would leave you, how could it be in spring-time
I could never leave you during the spring because I am completely bewitched and captivated by your beauty during that time.
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so
I am so entranced by your beauty during the spring months that I could never leave you then.
Oh, no! not in spring-time.
Not during the spring, never ever would I be able to leave you.
Summer, winter or fall.
No matter the season, I could never leave you.
No, never could I leave you at all.
I could never leave you, not for any reason, because you are my true love and my heart is forever yours.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, FREDERICK LOEWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind