From Deseret News archives:

Duo to join choir for yule treat

Published: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003 5:04 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Of all the internationally renowned artists who have performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir over the years, the name of Frederica von Stade ranks high on the list.

This week, the American mezzo-soprano will be making her third appearance with Utah's world-famous choir, along with the Orchestra at Temple Square, for their annual Christmas concerts Thursday through Saturday in the LDS Conference Center.

Von Stade won't be facing the choir alone this time. She'll be joined by her close friend and frequent collaborator Bryn Terfel. The Welsh baritone will be flying into Salt Lake City immediately after a grueling schedule of performances in Vienna and London's Royal Albert Hall.

The Salt Lake concerts mark Terfel's first appearance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and choir director Craig Jessop is thrilled to have both singers onstage together. "We're really excited. This was a real coup to get both Bryn and Flicka (von Stade's nickname)."

The choir has solid roots in Wales — its first director and a sizable number of early members were Welsh converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And the way Jessop tells the story, this Welsh connection was indirectly responsible for getting Terfel to perform at this year's Christmas concerts.

Story continues below
"We did a special for Welsh television a year ago September," Jessop said, "and I told the producer of the show that the choir had four directors who were Welsh." Jessop mentioned that it would be quite a feat if Terfel would somehow be able to come and sing with the choir. "(The TV special's producer) said that she knew Bryn and would ask him. So, last August I called her bluff and sent her an e-mail. She e-mailed me back and said that Bryn would come."

Jessop admitted that Terfel isn't as well-known in Utah as he should be, or as he is in Europe. On the other side of the Atlantic, Terfel sells out wherever he performs. "He's the Pavarotti of the baritone world. But few people realize that here. That's partly because baritones never get quite the attention that tenors do."

Terfel recently released his newest CD on Deutsche Grammophon. Titled "Bryn — Bryn Terfel Sings Favorites," the album includes songs by Bizet, Schubert, Dvorak and other classical composers, as well as popular tunes by Hoagy Carmichael and James Horner. "I bought it when I was in England about a month ago," Jessop said. "The album was No. 6 on the pop charts in England. That says a lot about our culture here."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concerts start Thursday.

previousnext

Latest comments

LDS to emphasize helping needy

The conservatives here sound exactly like the Pharisees : "See how much we...

If police came to me and wanted to question me about the disappearance of...

Shad Watson is the best player coming into high school next year. He might...

GOP loving 'ma'am' exchange

She was a disaster at H.P.. I'd be hard pressed to think she'd get votes...

He just got a lawyer, the fun begins.

Haven't any of you wanted to poison your wives dinner on a Sunday night and...

I pray for those 2 little innicents who are crying for their momma every...

"RE: Just tell us | 1:40 p.m. Dec. 14, 2009 where she is Josh. Good grammar,...

Gore: Polar ice may go in 5 years

To Here they come Yes, global warming is real. Climate change is real....

Letters: Ban violent games

This criticism is ridiculous. Should we burn books that have violence in...

Advertisements