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.
Men Of Harlech
Bryn Terfel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Victory is hov′ring o're ye
Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye
Hear ye not her call?
At your sloth she seems to wonder
Rend the sluggish bonds asunder
Let the warcry′s deaf'ning thunder
Ev'ry foe appal
Echoes loudly waking
Hill and valley shaking (Shaking)
Till the sound spreads wide around
The Saxon′s courage breaking (Breaking)
Your foes on ev′ry side assailing
Forward press with heart unfailing
Till invaders learn with quailing
Cambria ne'er can yield
Ni chaiff gelyn ladd ac ymlid
Harlech, Harlech, cwyd i′w herlid!
Y mae rhoddwr mawr ein rhyddid
Yn rhoi nerth i ni
Wele Cymru a'i fyddinoedd
Yn ymdywallt o′r mynyddoedd!
Rhuthrant fel rheadrau dyfroedd
Llamant fel y lli!
Llwyddiant i'n marchogion!
Rhwystro gledd yr estron!
Gwybod yn ein galon gaiff
Fel bratha clefydd Brython!
Y clêdd yn erbyn clêdd a chwery
Dûr yn erbyn dûr a dery
Wele fâner Gwalia′i fyny:
Rhyddid aiff a hi!
Men of Harlech is a Welsh patriotic song that was first sung in the late 1850s as a military marching tune. The song calls on the men of Harlech to march towards victory and stand up for their freedom. The first verse talks about how victory is hovering over them and how they should hear the call of freedom, which is personified as a beautiful woman. The men are urged to break free from their sluggishness and let their war cry's deafening thunder frighten their foes.
The second verse is all about the echoes that are created when the men of Harlech march to glory. Their sound wakes up the hills and valleys and scares the Saxon's courage breaking. The third and final verse starts with the phrase "Ni chaiff gelyn ladd ac ymlid", which translates to "Our enemies shall have no killing or escaping". The men of Harlech are called to press forward with unfailing hearts and not let the invaders think that Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, can be defeated.
The song is a celebration of Welsh identity and resistance against invaders. It has been used in movies, TV shows, and sports events, most notably in the movie Zulu and during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. It has also been translated into different languages, including English, French, and German.
Line by Line Meaning
Men of Harlech, march to glory
Men of Harlech, march bravely towards your victory
Victory is hov’ring o’er ye
You are close to achieving triumph
Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye
The chance to gain your freedom is presented to you
Hear ye not her call?
Are you not listening to the opportunity that is knocking at your door?
At your sloth she seems to wonder
Freedom seems to question your indolence
Rend the sluggish bonds asunder
Break free from the chains that are slowing you down
Let the warcry’s deaf’ning thunder
Your battle cry should be loud and intimidating
Ev’ry foe appal
Instilling fear into your enemies is essential
Echoes loudly waking
Loud sounds awakening
Hill and valley shaking (Shaking)
The land trembling with your power
Till the sound spreads wide around
Your victory cry shall be heard all around
The Saxon’s courage breaking (Breaking)
Your enemy's courage shall crumble under your might
Your foes on ev’ry side assailing
Your enemies attacking from all sides
Forward press with heart unfailing
Push forward with an unwavering heart
Till invaders learn with quailing
Continuing until the invaders are afraid
Cambria ne’er can yield
Cambria can never surrender
Ni chaiff gelyn ladd ac ymlid
The enemy shall not kill us nor make us flee
Harlech, Harlech, cwyd i’w herlid!
Harlech, Harlech, sing its defiance!
Y mae rhoddwr mawr ein rhyddid
The great giver of our freedom
Yn rhoi nerth i ni
Giving us strength
Wele Cymru a'i fyddinoedd
Behold Wales and its defenders
Yn ymdywallt o’r mynyddoedd!
Engaging in battle on the mountains!
Rhuthrant fel rheadrau dyfroedd
Rushing like torrents of water
Llamant fel y lli!
Fiercely shining like the spear!
Llwyddiant i’n marchogion!
Success for our knights!
Rhwystro gledd yr estron!
Warding off the foreign swords!
Gwybod yn ein galon gaiff
Knowing in our hearts
Fel bratha clefydd Brython!
Like the betrayal of the Britons!
Y clêdd yn erbyn clêdd a chwery
Sword against sword and shield
Dûr yn erbyn dûr a dery
Steel against steel and teardrops
Wele fâner Gwalia’i fyny:
Behold the banner of Gwalia up high:
Rhyddid aiff a hi!
Freedom goes along with it!
Writer(s): Chris Hazell
Contributed by Bella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.