Active Years: Born November 9, 1965

Position: Bass-baritone who quickly rose to unassuming fame, the Figaro of our time, and the Wotan of the future.

Career Highlights: Figaro, Leperello, Jochanaan, Villians in The Tales of Hoffman, etc.

Career Totals: Numerous awards including a Grammy and a Deutsche Grammophon award.

Scouting Report: Born Bryn Terfel Jones on a farm in Pant Glas, North Wales, Terfel left his birthplace for the first time when he went to London to audition for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. While there he won not only the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship, but also the school’s medal for best singer. In 1989, the same year as his graduation, he placed second and won the lieder prize in the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. The following year he made his opera debut with the Welsh National Opera as Guglielmo and Figaro. The latter became his signature role, which he has performed at nearly all of the world’s major opera houses. He made his American debut with the Santa Fe Opera in this role, and his 1994 Met debut was also as Figaro. His Met debut made the front page of the New York Times. He has also performed in Strauss’ Salome at many major venues. Terfel is married to his childhood sweetheart, Lesley, and has a son, Tomos, born in 1994.

Teammates and Contemporaries: A favorite of James Levine, Terfel has worked with Catherine Malfitano, Renee Flemming, Dawn Upshaw, Joan Sutherland, and Sam Ramey, among others.

Fun Statistic: Terfel is often told that he resembles the pop singer and Rocky Horror Picture Show star Meatloaf, and is said to do a wicked impression of him!