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.
My Little Welsh Home
Bryn Terfel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
of the mountains where in childhood I would roam
I have dwelt ‘neath southern skies
where the summer never dies
but my heart is in the mountains of my home
I can see the little homestead on the hill
I can hear the magic music of the Urdd
with the love that once was there
in the lonely little homestead on the hill
I can see the quiet churchyard down below
where the mountain breezes wander to and fro
and when god my soul will keep
it is there I want to sleep
with those dear old folks that loved me long ago
In the song "My Little Welsh Home," Bryn Terfel nostalgically recalls the mountains of his childhood. He reveals that although he has lived under the eternal summer skies of southern lands, his heart still longs for the mountains of home. He describes the little homestead on the hill where he grew up and the mystical music of the Urdd that he can vividly hear in his mind. Bryn reminisces about the love that once filled the lonely little homestead on the hill. In the final stanza, he speaks of the churchyard below where the mountain winds blow and the dear old folks that loved him long ago. Bryn concludes that when God calls his soul, it is there that he wants to rest, among the mountains, with the people he still loves.
Line by Line Meaning
I am dreaming of the mountains of my home
I am longing for the mountains of my childhood home
of the mountains where in childhood I would roam
the mountains where I used to wander as a child
I have dwelt ‘neath southern skies
I have lived under the sunny southern skies
where the summer never dies
where the warmth of the summer always stays
but my heart is in the mountains of my home
but my heart is still in the mountains of my hometown
I can see the little homestead on the hill
I can visualize the small family home on the hill
I can hear the magic music of the Urdd
I can recall the enchanting melodies of Urdd (Welsh youth organization)
there is nothing to compare
nothing else can match
with the love that once was there
with the affection that once resided there
in the lonely little homestead on the hill
in the isolated and small family home on the hill
I can see the quiet churchyard down below
I can visualize the peaceful cemetery below the hill
where the mountain breezes wander to and fro
where the refreshing winds of the hills blow freely
and when god my soul will keep
when God takes care of my soul
it is there I want to sleep
that is where I desire to rest eternally
with those dear old folks that loved me long ago
with my beloved deceased relatives who cherished me in the past
Writer(s): W. S. Williams
Contributed by Ruby P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jimbone9742
May Cymru last forever and the beautiful music.
@everaldomarquesdesousa5364
This beautiful song remindes me my younger years. It is a portrait of my youth. I enjoy it so much.
@ernstlennarttibro9578
A salute from a Norwegian. Most beautiful song
@christopherdownes4067
my grandfather was a good friend of Bryns and sadly nearly two years ago he passed away. He often accompanied bryn, sian coffi etc on the piano and this song will always remind me of him, and also my nan. Since its a song i have of him on the piano and my nan singing. RIP Bryan and Eirwen Davies, Grandad and Nana my heroes and my love and respect always see you soon xxxx
@shanestokes8114
awesome Christopher, thank you for sharing that, God bless you brother :)
@stormy49
My Welsh grandparents and their families - I see them there even tho there lives were so hard. No fairyland.
@Tamhenten14
Impressive and touching. No doubt that comes from a bottom of his heart. While singing I can see the little homestead on the hill as well as mountain breeze wandering to and fro... pure beauty!
@marialeysen2030
WHAT A DREAM!!!!!! 🎼🥇
@caithnessviolinist7903
I dedicate this beautiful song to my grandfather, Norman Jones. His favourite song.
@wizardsmonsterspiratesdemo5400
My grandfather too, Arwin Clement. It was sung at his funeral.