Show goes on for opera's Terfel

Bryn Terfel sang in Llangollen on Wednesday

Opera star Bryn Terfel appeared at a north Wales charity concert on Wednesday despite falling ill earlier in the week.

A live broadcast of Wagner's opera The Valkyrie, due to be screened on BBC Two on Monday, was postponed after he was taken unwell.

The Welsh baritone was due to perform at Covent Garden's Royal Opera House.

However, the star still took to the stage for a charity concert in Llangollen on Wednesday.

His press agent Joe O'Neill said the opera star had been keen to attend the charity event.

"Bryn developed a chest infection in the early part of last week and was only just able to finish the performance of The Valkyrie on the 22nd," said Mr O'Neill.

Health problems

"Despite taking medication, the infection did not clear sufficiently for him to attempt to sing one of the most demanding roles in the operatic repertoire on bank holiday Monday."

Two days on and Bryn felt confident that he had sufficient voice to sing a few light solos to conclude the tsunami concert at Llangollen, he said.

The sell-out concert at Llangollen's International Eisteddfod Pavilion saw Terfel joined by Welsh musicians and choirs.

Terfel suffered health problems earlier in the year, when he was forced to "mime" through a performance of The Ring Cycle at Covent Garden after losing his voice hours before the curtain went up.

Veteran bass baritone Sir Donald McIntyre stepped in for the performance, and sang from the orchestra pit while Terfel performed the role.

Meanwhile, Terfel has received critical acclaim for his performance as Wotan in the series of operas, which debuted at Covent Garden in December.