Bryn Terfel's Carols & Christmas Songs out Tuesday, November 2nd

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Bryn Terfel Celebrates the Holidays with Traditional Songs and Welsh Favorites out November 2nd on Deutsche Grammophon
Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera led by Tecwyn Evans with guests Rolando Villazón, Catrin Finch, Only Men Aloud and Bing Crosby
“Terfel’s powerful vocal presence is born of physical presence and he harnesses words, in any language, like few others.” Gramophone

The holidays conjure images of crackling fires, luminous trees, family gatherings and warm baked treats. This season, Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel will provide the accompaniment to this joyful time with his new release Carols and Christmas Songs available from Deutsche Grammophon on November 2nd, 2010.

The highlight of the new album is a duet of “White Christmas” with the legendary Bing Crosby. The vocals were taken from the original recording as performed by Bing Crosby With The Ken Darby Singers & John Scott Trotter & His Orchestra. Terfel then focuses on his favorite traditional songs of the season including O Holy Night, In the Bleak Midwinter and Away in a Manger. Tenor Rolando Villazón joins Terfel in a performance of El Nacimiento while Welsh harpist Catrin Finch duets on Silent Night and What Child is This.

“Music is always a constant background accompaniment, and such an integral part of the festive period,” says Terfel. “How excited I was at the prospect of recording some of these wonderful songs, especially knowing that the Welsh repertoire would also find its way onto the list.” As a bonus, Terfel recorded a bonus disc of songs from his native Wales. He invited two Welsh singers and songwriters to contribute: Gwarw Edwards sings a duet with Bryn and Caryl Parry Jones has new Christmas songs for Bryn. Also included as guests are the chorus Côrdydd and the Nidus Children’s Choir.

This release comes just as Terfel has finished his first Wotan at the Metropolitan Opera in their opening night performance of Das Rheingold. He continues to tour the US in recital with Malcolm Martineau throughout November, including performances at Carnegie Hall in New York on November 17th, Berkeley on November 20th and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on November 22nd. His US appearances conclude with three concerts of Wagner with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen November 26th-28th.

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