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.
White Christmas
Bryn Terfel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
Bryn Terfel's rendition of White Christmas is a classic Christmas carol that speaks of longing and nostalgia for Christmas memories past. The song talks about dreams of a white Christmas, one that the singer used to know. The imagery of snow-covered trees and the sound of sleigh bells are depicted as something magical and enchanting, and that is what the singer wishes for in his dreams.
The second verse of the song reflects the core Christmas sentiment of wishing joy and happiness to everyone during the holiday season. The lyrics "May your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmases be white" encapsulate the hope and positive energy that the season brings. Although the song does not explicitly mention any religious connotations, it is deeply embedded in the ethos of the Christian tradition of spreading love, compassion, and goodwill to all.
Overall, Bryn Terfel's version of White Christmas is a heartwarming tribute to the wonder and joy of Christmas, and it reminds us of the importance of cherishing our memories and spreading cheer and kindness to everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
I long for a Christmas that is adorned in snow.
Just like the ones I used to know
A Christmas that feels familiar, like the one I had in the past.
Where the treetops glisten,
The snow on top of the trees shines in a magnificent way.
and children listen
Kids eagerly hear the sound of Christmas approaching.
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
They listen for the sound of a sleigh being pulled through the snow.
With every Christmas card I write
For every card that I write, I think about my desire for a white Christmas.
May your days be merry and bright
I wish for joy and happiness during your holiday season.
And may all your Christmases be white
I hope that all the Christmases you experience are snowy and magical, just like the one I am dreaming of.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anthony Corro Guzmán
Beautiful voice of baritone Terfel!
Evelyn Nicholson
Love this. Know it's schmaltzy but loved Bing and so great to have him back at Christmas with Bryn as well......
Christine Thomas-O'Meally
I wish that when they were singing in unison, it would be closer together. Bryn needs to mimic Bing's articulation for it to really be a duet.
Brady Call
I do wonder why some people think Bryn Terfel is a tenor.
Don R
@JamesMorganLondon Bing was a good enough crooner to "put over" this song far better than Terfel does here. Some opera singers have been able to do a very creditable job with Great American Songbook material. Eileen Farrell was one, but admittedly she actually preferred pop to opera. Most tend to be either heavy-handed or overly "scholastic" sounding; especially the men.
PippinRally
I love this song and much as I'd love to love it Bryn's voice does not go well with Bing's.
rosmhictreoin
I am assuming that Bryn admires the deceased Bing, but I have to say that neither compliments the other. Generally disappointed with it.
josh1391
yeh but we all know that bird is in fact the word.
Ricacha90
I´m guessing a McAmerican here
Scribe13
LOL