Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel has launched a new label for young classical artists to mark 20 years with his record label, Deutsche Grammophon.
The new imprint, which will be called Snowdonia Records, will focus on musicians - singers and intrumentalists - working in choral music. The first recordings will be announced in 2014.
In a statement the Welsh singer said: 'I'm very excited, at this stage of my career, to get really involved in finding and nurturing new talent. 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.'
Deutsche Grammophon's president, 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.'
Terfel's next recording to be released on DG will be a project with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and will feature folk songs, hymns, spirituals and 'Faith's Call', a song written specially for the singer by composer Paul Mealor.
Terfel yeterday (23 July) performed the role of Wotan at the BBC Proms and you can hear the performance on iPlayer here for the next week.
Polly Bartlett