Two decades after first joining Deutsche Grammophon, Bryn Terfel has signed an exclusive, long-term recording contract with the Berliners. As part of the deal, the Welsh baritone/bass has affirmed his commitment to supporting the next generation of classical musicians by creating a unique joint venture label.
Utilizing Terfel’s artistry and insight, newly-formed Snowdonia Records (after Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales) will seek to identify, develop and record new talent in the classical arena--be they Welsh, British or abroad. Housed within DG’s international stable--and supported by lovely A&R vice president Ute Fesquet--this imprint will work both the vocal and instrumental verticals.
The first knights of Snowdonia will be crowned some time during the 2014 fiscal year.
“I am very excited, at this stage of my career, to get really involved in finding and nurturing new talent,” said Terfel, just before his appearance at the BBC Proms in Die Walküre, conducted by a hot and bothered Daniel Barenboim.
“I want to help give young artists the opportunity to record--the same opportunity I was given when I myself joined Deutsche Grammophon over 20 years ago.”
Thought to be the first time a classical artist has worked on such a venture with a major label, naturally, the announcement comes ahead of Terfel’s September 13 release for DG, Homeward Bound.
Featuring the infamous Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "this is the most ambitious studio album ever made in the label’s 115-year history, involving 360 choir members, 150 orchestral musicians, two guest singers, a conductor and a soloist," or so reads the hyperbolic press release.
All the same, Homeward Bound does indeed reunite Terfel with the SLC LDS-ers, 10 years removed from his first appearance at their annual not-quite-Christmas concert.
Highlighting the strong Welsh connections within the choir--some of the founding bigamists in the mid-19th century were immigrants from Wales--the new album features hymns, spirituals, folks songs, popular classics as well as “Faith’s Call," a new ditty written especially for Bryn and the Morons by royal wedding composer, Paul Mealor.
Commenting on this new partnership, Deutsche Grammophon’s Mark Wilkinson said: "We couldn’t be happier. I have been lucky enough to work closely with Bryn and his team for nearly 15 years now, so having the chance to make more records, and discover new emerging performers with him, is something that I and the whole label are looking forward to.”
Yeah, we'll prolly just keep playing Anna Netrebko's "Mercè, dilette amiche."
