Bryn Terfel

On 16 November 2003, John Sissons interviewed the welsh singer, Bryn Terfel

Please note "BBC Breakfast with Frost" must be credited if any part of this transcript is used.

John Sissons interviewed the welsh singer, Bryn Terfel

PETER SISSONS: Now, the singer Bryn Terfel is one of our finest and best known classical performers. But his remarkable voice can fill a stadium as easily as an opera house. He's currently enjoying huge success with an album that mixes arias and popular songs and he's with us now. Bryn, thank you very much for joining us.

BRYN TERFEL: Good morning.

PETER SISSONS: This album, it's top of the classical chart already but it's also heading for the top ten of the pop charts. Now, as they say, is this a record?

BRYN TERFEL: Well I guess I'm on my farmer's tractor now, ploughing a new field. It's a nice feeling. Obviously the songs and arias that are on the disc have been thought about. I think it's a light classics album.

PETER SISSONS: Do you recognise now a new genre of classical pop that bridges, or attempts to bridge, the two?

BRYN TERFEL: I guess so. Many many people would like to abolish this term "crossover" and I think that our new generation of singers would love to do this. It's all to do with performing I think, in the end. All the songs on my new album have been orchestrated by Chris Hazel with a classical thinking behind it.

PETER SISSONS: Well, that's being a bit disingenuous because it's all to do with actually making some money because there's no money in selling classical records now.

BRYN TERFEL: No, I think the album's worked because it's selling quite well and it's top of the Classic FM charts. But, you know, I always think that that album's going to be on those shelves, so I have to reach a certain point or certain height within my art form. I don't like to think that I'm dragging it down, I think I'm adding towards it. And I'm also trying to feather my own cap with lots of different tastes of music.

PETER SISSONS: But the sales of classical are said to be very poor. Is that true?

BRYN TERFEL: Well I think we're going through different generations, as we are within opera for instance. At certain times of the year the producers were very important, then the conductors came in. I think that singers are having their say now with opera houses being refurbished and productions, I guess, being much more elaborate. But I think classical music will also I think become much higher sales once again. There are some fantastic artists coming through.

PETER SISSONS: But could a whole generation grow up thinking classical music is compilations of popular classics, and arrangements of pop songs sung by you and Pavarotti and others who see a commercial opening?

BRYN TERFEL: Well the work that the three tenors, for instance, have done. You mentioned Pavarotti. But José Carrares and Placido Domingo of course since the World Cup in Italy have broken new and opened new doors for audiences to go and listen to classical music. So I think there are two sides to that coin. And this helps towards bringing young people into the opera houses. Because, if you make your homework and you know when the tickets are coming out on sale you can get a ticket, and for a reasonable price as well. And it's an art form that people should really enjoy.

PETER SISSONS: Who are your heroes?

BRYN TERFEL: Oh, a couple of weeks ago two singers passed away, Franco Corelli who was one of Italy's most finest tenor voices. Also Bonny Soli died, and those are the kind of people that I put on a pedestal. George London was a fantastic base baritone voice. So I have an eclectic mix of music and I was from a generation that loved people like Dire Straits, Queen, Pink Floyd. So I've had all the tastes of music and I have had to play catch-up with classical music.

PETER SISSONS: And you're singing at the football on Wednesday, sorry about the rugby.

BRYN TERFEL: Well, I hope I'm a good omen because the last time I sang the National Anthem in our wonderful stadium was when Wales played Italy and we beat them 2-1, so we had a great result in Russia yesterday. So hopefully on Wednesday night I'm singing the National Anthem again, and we can put a couple of goals past them.

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