Duo to join choir for yule treat

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.

"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."

Jessop said that the program for next week's concerts will include carols from around the world and favorite sacred and secular Christmas songs. "It's all eclectic and all wonderful." During the performance, Terfel will also read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke.