The world's best baritone is coming to town. He is not a household name, such as Pavarotti, Domingo or the diva Sarah Brightman. However, he is huge in today's operatic scene.

China has welcomed many "big stars" on the verge of retirement. However some of these older stars have sometimes been unable to finish a concert because of their failing health condition. Finally China is receiving a performing artist at the peak of his career.

His name is Bryn Terfel and the Welsh baritone is a towering presence in the international music world. Whether it is opera, art song, folk song, oratorio or popular song, live or recorded, Terfel is king.

Touring with the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra in Asia, he will treat Beijing's audience a concert at Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall tonight and move to Shanghai's Oriental Arts Centre on Sunday. At the Beijing concert, Terfel will sing Mozart and Wagner's concert arias.

"With music in his heart, Terfel is one of the most charismatic and talented singers performing today. His commanding stage presence, rich bass-baritone voice and sparkling personality make him in great demand around the world," commented the Beijing-based opera critic Li Cheng.

Born in rural North Wales in 1965, Terfel studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He rose to prominence when he won the Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 1989.

Subsequent awards include "Male Artist of the Yea" in the 2005 Classical Brit Awards, "Male Artist of the Year" and "Album of the Year" for the platinum selling disk "Bry" in the 2004 Classical Brit Awards, the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Classical Vocal performance and the Gramophone Awards 1995 for his album "An Die Musik."

The combination of a great voice, immaculate diction, commanding stage presence and flair for acting has made Terfel the hottest property in opera throughout the world. His signature roles include Figaro in Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and the title role in Verdi's "Falstaff."

Terfel achieves seemingly effortlessly what many other classical artists attempt with less success the "crossover" album. His versatility is demonstrated in his numerous recordings which range from Mendelssohn's "Elijah," Schumann's "Liederkreis" to a best-selling album of songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein and an album of traditional Welsh songs.

(China Daily November 17, 2006)