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.
There Is Always One You Can't Forget
Bryn Terfel Lyrics
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There's always one you can't forget,
One who roams around your mind,
One you cannot leave behind.
Other smiles seem painted on;
Other nights are here and gone;
Other loves become a blur;
Across a room, along the street,
You always hope, perhaps, you'll meet.
Why? Why won't it die? You try, and yet
You can't forget, you can't forget, you can't forget.
Other smiles seem painted on;
Other nights are here and gone;
Other loves become a blur;
In other arms, you think of her.
Across a room, along the street,
You always hope, perhaps, you'll meet.
Why? Why won't it die? You try, and yet
You can't forget, you can't forget, you can't forget.
Bryn Terfel's "There is Always One You Can't Forget" seems to express the feeling of longing for someone from the past who continues to occupy a significant space in one's thoughts and emotions even after having gone through various experiences and relationships. The song speaks to the idea that, despite trying to move on, there is always one person who remains unforgettable, who has left an indelible impression.
The repetition of the phrase "Other smiles seem painted on" and "Other loves become a blur" suggests that the singer has tried to move on and find new love, but nothing seems to measure up to the unattainable memory. The lyric "In other arms, you think of her" shows how the memory of this person infiltrates even the most intimate moments with others. Furthermore, the line "You always hope, perhaps, you'll meet" suggests that there is still hope for the singer to reunite with the unforgettable person.
The song expresses the universal experience of trying to move on from a past love or connection that just won't let go, but instead haunts and lingers. Overall, "There is Always One You Can't Forget" translates the feeling of treasuring cherished memories while at the same time acknowledging the difficulties that can accompany it.
Line by Line Meaning
There's always one you can't forget
No matter how hard you try or how many new people you meet, there will always be one person who stays with you and never truly leaves your mind.
One who roams around your mind
This person's presence or memory is constantly on your mind, no matter what else you are thinking or doing.
One you cannot leave behind
Even though you may want to, you find it impossible to forget and move on from this person.
Other smiles seem painted on;
Despite other people's attempts to make you happy or smile, their efforts seem to pale in comparison to the feelings you have for the person you can't forget.
Other nights are here and gone;
Although you may have experienced other special or memorable moments with other people, they quickly fade away and lose their significance compared to the memories of the one you can't forget.
Other loves become a blur;
Other past romantic relationships or crushes start to become hazy and indistinct in your mind, while the memory of the person you can't forget remains clear and vivid.
In other arms, you think of her.
Even when you're physically with someone else, your mind is still fixed on the person you can't forget and you can't seem to shake the feeling of missing them.
Across a room, along the street,
No matter where you are, you are always searching for a glimpse or a sign of the person you can't forget, always hoping to run into them again somehow.
You always hope, perhaps, you'll meet.
Despite how unrealistic it may seem, you hold on to the hope that you will one day be reunited with the person you can't forget.
Why? Why won't it die? You try, and yet
Despite your efforts and attempts to move on, the memory and feelings for the person you can't forget persist and refuse to fade away.
You can't forget, you can't forget, you can't forget.
The repetition of this line reinforces the idea that no matter what happens or how much time goes by, you will always remember and hold onto the memory of the person you can't forget.
Writer(s): LERNER, STROUSE
Contributed by Aria M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.