RANDOM JOTTINGS


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I see that Bryn Terfel has pulled out of the forthcoming two Ring Cycles at Covent Garden which he was due to sing in October citing ‘problems with one of his children’.  No details of precisely what it is that is the problem have been given, but there are rumours that one of his sons has a badly broken finger.  If this is so, then I am amazed at his withdrawal.  Bryn is not known for diva like behaviour and has no history of cancellations so I am sure it must be something far more serious to bring him to this decision.

I have mixed feelings about this.  I am sad for those who have tickets, my daughter and her fiance being two such, but rather relieved that my haverings about whether to attend this Cycle were justified.  Bryn had to cancel one performance of Die Walkure as he lost his voice and, as Wagner is a killer to sing, I had my doubts that booking tickets nearly a year in advance was a good idea, with the odds against him singing being quite high that far ahead. It turns out I was wise in my non-purchase.  I only hope that Placido fulfils his commitments to his two Die Walkure performances as his presence will surely make up for the disappointment of missing Bryn.

My personal feeling is that he can’t stand this production.

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6 responses to “Bryn Shock Horror”

  1. Rob Spence Avatar

    Apparently it is a broken finger, and it will require surgery. So obviously, faced with that trauma…

  2. Elaine Avatar

    Yes I read that!! Having been married to a singer myself for a long time, and being left to cope with tiny children on my own, I can well sympathise.

  3. SUSAN HILL Avatar
    SUSAN HILL

    Well the Mail on Sunday says Mrs Bryn Terfel has put her foot down.

  4. Elaine Avatar

    I would love to know what is the real reason for this. There is always something else behind the press release. I am very sad about all those disappointed people. Perhaps he just has doubts that he can cope with it all.

  5. Ann Avatar

    I wondered if you’d seen this. We have had a number of similar cancellations over the past couple of years at Symphony Hall, one young lady having cancelled twice. Mind you, sometimes it has its compensations. I had a letter warning me of one such cancellation but saying that Andre Previn had agreed to stand in and conduct at the last moment. As I’d never had the chance to see him that was fine by me. As a contrast, we had a night in February this year when Birmingham was hit very badly by snow and the orchestra that was supposed to be playing arrived in dribs and drabs well after the starting time. The soloist that evening was Boris Berokovsky who had made it and so he simply came on stage and gave an impromptu recital. That is professionalism.

  6. Teresa Avatar

    I agree, Elaine, what is going on here is a mystery. My paper said that he preferred to perform concert style productions as this was easier for his family life. What I feel sorry about is why not wait until after your commitment is completed to make a change in your life. I am so glad I went to see him in Sweeney Todd and I am sorry for those who will be disappointed having bought a ticket. I know this is sidetracking but it has made me wonder about the change in attitude towards public responsibilities not just by performers but by everyone in terms of giving up self in order to serve others – the number of voluntary workers has, sadly, dropped to a desperate level, I believe.

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