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Take Me to the Opera

Series 3

Peak Performance

Duration: 23 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC News ChannelLatest broadcast: on BBC News Africa

Available for 5 months

Zeinab Badawi meets Sir Bryn Terfel, one of the most distinguished singers of our age. A star who is in demand on stages across the world, Bryn has stayed true to his Welsh roots and is a great proponent for Welsh culture. He invites Zeinab behind the scenes not only at the Royal Opera House where he is a regular performer, but also in his native Wales where he still lives and where he is recording an album of traditional folk songs. He was chosen personally by King Charles to sing at his coronation.

Zeinab visits the Welsh National Opera which launched Bryn's international career and speaks to WNO general director, Aidan Lang who oversaw his debut performance. The WNO's touring wardrobe manager Judith Russell, shows Zeinab Sir Bryn's costume as Falstaff in the opera by Verdi and explains how she was tasked with dressing him for this iconic role.

We meet young Welsh singers performing at the same local singing competitions that Bryn sang in as a young boy and ask how he inspires them to walk in his footsteps. Bryn also takes his love of opera into the concert halls. We see him perform Wagner at the Royal Festival Hall in London and speak to artistic associate Gillian Moore about whether big names like Bryn performing in concert can lead new audiences into the opera houses. A passionate advocate for the arts Bryn tells us how important it is for him to be vocal about support for young talent and why he is so optimistic about the future of opera. Show less

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