Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Te… Read Full Bio ↴Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Leporello, but he has expanded his repertoire to include heavier roles, including Wagner.

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.

Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Bryn Terfel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Venid, vosotros todos los fieles, alegre y triunfante,
O Venid, oh venid, a Belén.
Ven y lo he aquí, nacido el Rey de los ángeles:
Venid, adoremos, Venid, adoremos,
Venid, adoremos, Cristo el Señor.
Canta, coros de ángeles, cantar en júbilo;
Canta, todos los ciudadanos vosotras heav'n anteriores!
Gloria a Dios, gloria en las alturas:

Venid, adoremos, Venid, adoremos,
Venid, adoremos, Cristo el Señor.
Sí, Señor, nos saludan Ti, nacido esta mañana feliz;
Jesús a Ti sea todo giv'n gloria;
Hijo del Padre, ahora en la carne que aparece:

Venid, adoremos, Venid, adoremos,
Venid, adoremos, Cristo el Señor.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bryn Terfel's "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful" are a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The song invites all faithful believers to come to Bethlehem and marvel at the birth of the King of Angels. The verses speak of the joy and triumph that accompany the event and urge the people to come and worship the Lord. It is an expression of the love and adoration that the singer has for Christ, and a statement of the belief that He is the Savior. The chorus "Venid, adoremos, Venid, adoremos, Venid, adoremos, Cristo el Señor" (Come, let us adore Him, Come, let us adore Him, Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord) repeats the call to worship the new king.

The song is a classic Christmas tune that is often played during the holiday season. The use of Spanish lyrics in this version adds a unique and beautiful touch to the song. The song is an invitation to everyone, regardless of their nationality, to come and celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Line by Line Meaning

Venid, vosotros todos los fieles, alegre y triunfante,
Come, all you faithful ones, joyful and triumphant,

O Venid, oh venid, a Belén.
Oh come, oh come to Bethlehem.

Ven y lo he aquí, nacido el Rey de los ángeles:
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels:

Venid, adoremos, Venid, adoremos,
Come let us adore Him, come let us adore Him,

Canta, coros de ángeles, cantar en júbilo;
Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation;

Canta, todos los ciudadanos vosotras heav'n anteriores!
Sing all you citizens of heaven above!

Gloria a Dios, gloria en las alturas:
Glory to God, glory in the highest:

Sí, Señor, nos saludan Ti, nacido esta mañana feliz;
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;

Jesús a Ti sea todo giv'n gloria;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;

Hijo del Padre, ahora en la carne que aparece:
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

Venid, adoremos, Venid, adoremos,
Come let us adore Him, come let us adore Him,