The Boy is Back in Town

Met Bryn Terfel this morning. The internationally renowned Welsh bass baritone is in Belfast for a concert with the Ulster Orchestra tomorrow night.

I was due to interview him at 11.15 this morning for Sunday's Sounds Classical. And with no one to look after the child at 11.14, I rushed in to BBC reception with two-year-old daughter and nappy bag in one arm, Bryn's latest cd "Bad Boys" in the other, which I had just taken out of the car cd player. The two-year-old had just given it a favourable review . "I like that music". But she also loves Aqua's Barbie Girl.

Bryn was sitting in reception, and as I babbled at him, 'hello I'm doing the interview with you, this is my daughter, thank you for coming in, OMG it's Bryn Terfel in front of me, don't panic', I was saved by my phone ringing. As I took the call, Bryn, let's put him in context, oh yes, only one of the world's leading opera singers right now, started entertaining my wee girl with silly voices and animal impressions. 

When he offered to carry the nappy bag upstairs to the studio and continued to entertain her by pulling comedy faces all the way up the three floors, I thought if the New York Met, La Scala and the Royal Opera at Covent Garden no longer wanted his services he could have a big future in children's entertaining.

His album may be called "Bad Boys" but he's really a big softie.