Bryn Terfel News

MetTalks, a series of panel discussions with the casts and creative teams of the Metropolitan Opera's new productions, will begin on September 22 with a conversation about Das Rheingold, the first installment of the Met's new Ring cycle.

This week, in conjunction with SOUND OFF, we are taking a look at Sunday evening's starry West End salute to Stephen Sondheim which was broadcast in the UK on TV and everywhere on the BBC website, BBC PROMS: SONDHEIM AT 80. This unforgettable event stars Dame Judi Dench, Maria Friedman, Bryn Terfel, Caroline O'Conner, Julian Ovenden, Daniel Evans, Jenna Russell and Simon Russell Beale singing selections from Sondheim's entire oeuvre - among them: "Send In The Clowns", "Broadway Baby", "Children Will Listen", "Move On" and "Side By Side". Dame Dench's recreation of her Desiree Armfeldt - a role currently essayed by Bernadette Peters who opened this week in the replacement cast of the Broadway revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, replacing Tony-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones - is merely impossibly elegant decoration on a decadently rich, rewarding, fulfilling and entertaining gateau of celebratory Sondheimian greatness. A piece of birthday cake like few others. Come see and hear some clips from it for yourself if you haven't already!

This week, we are taking a look at Sunday evening's starry West End salute to Stephen Sondheim which was broadcast in the UK on TV and everywhere on the BBC website, BBC PROMS: SONDHEIM AT 80. This unforgettable event stars Dame Judi Dench, Maria Friedman, Bryn Terfel, Caroline O'Conner, Julian Ovenden, Daniel Evans, Jenna Russell and Simon Russell Beale singing selections from Sondheim's entire oeuvre - among them: 'Send In The Clowns', 'Broadway Baby', 'Children Will Listen', 'Move On' and 'Side By Side'. Dame Dench's recreation of her Desiree Armfeldt - a role currently essayed by Bernadette Peters who opened this week in the replacement cast of the Broadway revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, replacing Tony-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones - is merely impossibly elegant decoration on a decadently rich, rewarding, fulfilling and entertaining gateau of celebratory Sondheimian greatness. A piece of birthday cake like few others. Come along and hear it for yourself if you haven‘t already!

Stage and screen star Judi Dench paid special tribute to Stephen Sondheim on July 31, 2010 as part of the Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms event, celebrating the composer's 80th birthday. Dench performed her rendition of 'Send In the Clowns' from A Little Night Music, which she claims to be 'hugely exciting' but 'daunting.'

MEN ALOUD, the award-winning, multi-platinum singing ensemble from the UK, are about to make their mark upon the shores of North America thanks to their first performance special, 'Men Aloud: Live From Wales' which has been chosen as the premiere Public Television pledge drive program to be aired nationally beginning August 1st.

The BBC reports that stage and screen star Judi Dench will pay special tribute to Stephen Sondheim on July 31, 2010 as part of the Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms event, celebrating the composer's 80th birthday. Dench will perform her rendition of 'Send In the Clowns' from A Little Night Music, which she claims to be 'hugely exciting' but 'daunting.' The song selection for the actress was a no-brainer, as allegedly, 'On hearing Dame Judi's performance of Send In The Clowns at the National Theatre in 1995, Sondheim is said to have told the acclaimed actress: 'It's yours now.'

MEN ALOUD, the award-winning, multi-platinum singing ensemble from the UK, are about to make their mark upon the shores of North America thanks to their first performance special, 'Men Aloud: Live From Wales' which has been chosen as the premiere Public Television pledge drive program to be aired nationally beginning August 1st.

The BBC reports that stage and screen star Judi Dench will pay special tribute to Stephen Sondheim on July 31, 2010 as part of the Sondheim at 80 BBC Proms event, celebrating the composer's 80th birthday. Dench will perform her rendition of 'Send In the Clowns' from A Little Night Music, which she claims to be 'hugely exciting' but 'daunting.' The song selection for the actress was a no-brainer, as allegedly, 'On hearing Dame Judi's performance of Send In The Clowns at the National Theatre in 1995, Sondheim is said to have told the acclaimed actress: 'It's yours now.'

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, is pleased to announce that seven new members were elected to the Board of Directors during the organization's recent annual conference in Los Angeles.

Washington National Opera General Director Plácido Domingo has announced the company's 2010-11 season, including productions, casting and creative teams, and performance dates for all main stage operas. Opening September 11, 2010 at the Kennedy Center Opera House, the company's 55th season encompasses 45 performances of five productions, all new to Washington: Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, a new production of Strauss' Salome, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, the company premiere of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride, and Donizetti's Don Pasquale.

West End favourite Daniel Boys will host West End Live on Sunday 20th June. He will preside over the proceedings between 12 - 6 as well as singing a couple of numbers.

Conductor David Charles Abell has worked extensively, and to great acclaim, across the musical and operatic repertoire but only now is he directing his talent in any major way toward his fellow American, Stephen Sondheim, who turned 80 earlier this year.

West End favourite Daniel Boys will host West End Live on Sunday 20th June. He will preside over the proceedings between 12 - 6 as well as singing a couple of numbers.

Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group and Bill Kenwright present Monty Python's Spamalot: A new musical lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle and John Du Prez on their UK Tour from May 29th 2010.

Celebrating twenty years of concerts and music-making, Finbar Wright, returns to the Gaiety Theatre on Sunday 23rd May 2010 at 8pm. Tickets prices are €25-38. Romantic songs, Spanish music and powerful ballads, Finbar Wright's performance is part of a National tour. Audiences throughout Ireland and the USA have taken him to their hearts from the very start of his career. As part of his 2010 tour to date, Finbar sold out the Cork Opera House and Theatre Royal in Waterford. Full tour details available at: www.finbarwright.com/tour_dates.htm

Tony- and Emmy award-winning actress Cherry Jones joins Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and special guests-actors Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris-for the world premiere performance of The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers-the centerpiece of the Boston Pops' 125th anniversary season celebration-on May 18, at 8 p.m. (repeated on May 19), at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA. Cherry Jones, who can currently be seen in the hit TV show 24 as President Allison Taylor, has appeared in Oceans Twelve, The Village, Signs, and Cradle Will Rock, and in guest appearances on television shows including 'The West Wing' and 'Frasier.' Ms. Jones won Tony awards in 1995 for her leading role in The Heiress and in 2005 for her leading role in Doubt, and won an Emmy award in 2009 for her role in 24. The world premiere performances of The Dream Lives On are the centerpiece of the Boston Pops 125th anniversary season, May 4-June 20.

Acclaimed actors Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman give life to the words of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy, respectively, when they join conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for the world premiere performance of The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers-the centerpiece of the Boston Pops 125th anniversary season celebration-on May 18, at 8 p.m. (repeated on May 19), at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA.

The Boston Pops world premiere of The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers, which will take place at Boston's Symphony Hall on May 18 and 19, is set to receive a live audio recording for later release. The event will also be documented in a video exclusive, featuring interviews with composer Peter Boyer, lyricist Lynn Ahrens, and conductor Keith Lockhart, as well as excerpts from the show itself.

Celebrating twenty years of concerts and music-making, Finbar Wright, returns to the Gaiety Theatre on Sunday 23rd May 2010 at 8pm. Tickets prices are €25-38. Romantic songs, Spanish music and powerful ballads, Finbar Wright's performance is part of a National tour. Audiences throughout Ireland and the USA have taken him to their hearts from the very start of his career. As part of his 2010 tour to date, Finbar sold out the Cork Opera House and Theatre Royal in Waterford. Full tour details available at: www.finbarwright.com/tour_dates.htm

Tony- and Emmy award-winning actress Cherry Jones joins Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and special guests-actors Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris-for the world premiere performance of The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers-the centerpiece of the Boston Pops' 125th anniversary season celebration-on May 18, at 8 p.m. (repeated on May 19), at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA. Cherry Jones, who can currently be seen in the hit TV show 24 as President Allison Taylor, has appeared in Oceans Twelve, The Village, Signs, and Cradle Will Rock, and in guest appearances on television shows including 'The West Wing' and 'Frasier.' Ms. Jones won Tony awards in 1995 for her leading role in The Heiress and in 2005 for her leading role in Doubt, and won an Emmy award in 2009 for her role in 24. The world premiere performances of The Dream Lives On are the centerpiece of the Boston Pops 125th anniversary season, May 4-June 20.