Rhydian Roberts
Encyclopedia
Rhydian James Roberts popularly known as Rhydian, is a classically trained Welsh
baritone
and crossover artist. He rose to fame on The X Factor
in 2007. Of his CD albums, the first went platinum, the second included collaborations with Kiri te Kanawa
and Bryn Terfel
and the third, Waves (Conehead Records, 1 August 2011) marks a shift in style from opera to pop. Rhydian has recorded a television entertainment series, toured the UK and made gala and charity appearances in his native Wales and at the Royal Albert Hall
, London. His star musical theatre roles include a European arena tour of The War of the Worlds - Alive on Stage!
and UK tours of We Will Rock You
and Grease
.
, Powys
, Wales
, Rhydian attended the Pontsenni Cylch Meithrin and then Ysgol y Bannau Welsh medium school in Brecon. From the age of 5, he represented both the school and Powys in the Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Eisteddfod, maintaining links with the Urdd whilst at Llandovery College
(where he became head boy
) and later as a university undergraduate.
He played rugby union
for the Gwernyfed RFC club (near Brecon, as a junior and later for his school, as well as cricket
for Powys County Junior teams. "My plan was to be a professional player for the Swansea RFC Ospreys (rugby team)," he says. "From the age of ten that was all I could think about – and I wasn't interested in singing any more." He undertook a stringent exercise programme and was "a gym fanatic who could bench-press 386lbs at 16."
, Rhydian won a bursary to the Birmingham Conservatoire at University of Central England (now known as Birmingham City University
). He studied with Adrian Clarke and Christine Cairns. He was the first student from outside London to win the Kathleen Ferrier
Society Bursary for Young Singers, and other accolades included the Reginald Vincent Lieder Prize, the 2007 Mario Lanza
Educational Award, and the Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize. While still a student, Rhydian played Morales in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
's semi-staged Carmen
. Among his many leading roles at the Conservatoire were Charley in Merrily We Roll Along
and the title role in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. After graduating in 2007, Rhydian auditioned for the BBC's Any Dream Will Do
.
and guest-starring as "Teen Angel" in Grease.
He rejoins We Will Rock You at the Edinburgh Playhouse
(29 November - 7 January 2012).
On 1 March (St David's Day), Rhydian sang at his old high school in Llandovery during a visit by HRH The Prince of Wales. A busy August Bank Holiday included the opening night of the Gwyl Gobaith Festival, a 10th Birthday Concert of Wales Air Ambulance, which, said Rhydian, "is something close to my heart and saved the life of a neighbour of mine." The following day, he opened the 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium
. He is also performing on 10 December in a Christmas special at Bath Forum.
Rhydian's third CD album, Waves, included cover version
s of many 1980s rock
hits. He also performed as a soloist on the CD To Where You Are with the Morriston Orpheus Choir. Rhydian fronted an eight-part television entertainment series for S4C
, featuring, among its guest stars, Hayley Westenra
and Claire Jones
.
, was 2008's highest-selling album by a male newcomer. He sang at the Welsh Grand Slam
celebrations, the BBC
Sports Personality of the Year Awards, Andrew Lloyd Webber's
60th Birthday concert,
and at private functions internationally. Having heard Rhydian sing, HRH Prince Charles
invited him to become an ambassador of The Prince's Trust
. Rhydian sang at the Children of Courage Awards Ceremony at Westminster Abbey
. Television included The X Factor
finals and Charlotte Church
's Christmas special.
2009 saw more than 600,000 albums sold, the release of Rhydian's second album, O Fortuna, and a 24-date solo tour of the UK. Television included the Children in Need
charity telethon and Songs of Praise
(BBC
), and his own special followed by a documentary, Rhydian, One Year On (S4C
). Rhydian again entertained the Royal Family, at "The Prince's Trust Celebrates Success" Awards. He headlined a Liverpool Summer Pops Festival concert in the Echo Arena and switched on the Hull
Christmas lights.
Between March and May 2010, Rhydian starred in three galas at London's Royal Albert Hall
: the Classic FM
Live concert as well as Classic Response
and the Classical Brits Awards. He joined Conehead Records. Extensive charity commitments included the Lord Mayor of Cardiff’s Gala Concert, Christian Aid
's concert, the charity single "The Prayer," and posing nude in Cosmopolitan
("Taking my kit off wasn't something I expected to do, but as it was for a great cause [prostate cancer] I changed my mind."). Rhydian entertained charity gala dinners for Help for Heroes
and for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), , observing:
Rhydian opened the 2010 Super League Grand Final
at Old Trafford
and the Ryder Cup
at Celtic Manor. In Wales he sang in the closing concert of St David's Week Festival at Brangwyn Hall
, Swansea
and several concerts with Welsh male voice choirs, and returned to the The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Rhydian starred in the 2010 European tour of Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds - Live on Stage! He performed in Hayley Westenra
's Christmas Wishes at Birmingham's Symphony Hall and in Christmas concerts at the Barbican Hall
and the O2.
Powerful performances of, among others, "You Raise Me Up
, " and "I Vow to Thee, My Country" made Rhydian favourite to win, while his rendition of "Somewhere" moved judge Dannii Minogue
to tears: "I can't even speak, that was so beautiful." Of his "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Simon Cowell
said "Rhydian, I thought that was bloody fantastic ... and I think probably your best performance, if not THE best performance of the competition so far."
During his audition for X Factor, Rhydian had been openly self-assured and ambitious. Judges found him both perplexing and talented, and his eventual mentor Dannii Minogue gave the only "no" vote. Sharon Osbourne
was reported to have found him arrogant, although these tensions softened in time. Later in the series, Simon Cowell averred: "[Rhydian] is incredibly polite and respectful. He stands out because he has an incredible voice." Reportedly concerned about potentially negative aspects of the film editing, Rhydian likened his portrayal during the series to that of a "pantomime villain".
Notwithstanding his fears, Rhydian eventually won over public opinion. Overhauling his image, he impressed as a spectacular and unpredictable performer, and "his trademark white hair and flamboyant dress sense made him an audience favourite immediately" He duetted in the final with Katherine Jenkins
, whom he had long admired. Despite finishing as runner-up, Rhydian was offered a recording contract with Sony BMG by Simon Cowell the next day.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
and crossover artist. He rose to fame on The X Factor
The X Factor (TV series)
The X Factor is a television talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is a singing competition, now held in various countries, which pits contestants against each other. These contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from...
in 2007. Of his CD albums, the first went platinum, the second included collaborations with Kiri te Kanawa
Kiri Te Kanawa
Dame Kiri Jeanette Te Kanawa, ONZ, DBE, AC is a New Zealand / Māori soprano who has had a highly successful international opera career since 1968. Acclaimed as one of the most beloved sopranos in both the United States and Britain she possesses a warm full lyric soprano voice, singing a wide array...
and Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro and Leporello, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles, especially those by Wagner....
and the third, Waves (Conehead Records, 1 August 2011) marks a shift in style from opera to pop. Rhydian has recorded a television entertainment series, toured the UK and made gala and charity appearances in his native Wales and at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, London. His star musical theatre roles include a European arena tour of The War of the Worlds - Alive on Stage!
The War of the Worlds
The War of the Worlds is an 1898 science fiction novel written by H. G. Wells.The War of the Worlds may also refer to:- Radio broadcasts :* The War of the Worlds , the 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Welles...
and UK tours of We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
and Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
.
Early years and vocal training
Born in SennybridgeSennybridge
Sennybridge is a village in Powys, Mid Wales, situated some from Cardiff and from Swansea. It lies west of Brecon on the A40 trunk road to Llandovery, at the point where the River Senni flows into the Usk...
, Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Rhydian attended the Pontsenni Cylch Meithrin and then Ysgol y Bannau Welsh medium school in Brecon. From the age of 5, he represented both the school and Powys in the Urdd Gobaith Cymru
Urdd Gobaith Cymru
dde|200px|thumb|The Urdd logoUrdd Gobaith Cymru, literally, the Welsh League of Hope, but normally translated as the Welsh League of Youth, or merely referred to as the Urdd, is a Welsh-medium youth movement with over 1,500 branches and over 50,000 members...
Eisteddfod, maintaining links with the Urdd whilst at Llandovery College
Llandovery College
Llandovery College is an independent school in Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It was founded and endowed by Thomas Phillips in 1847 to provide a classical and liberal education in which the Welsh language; the study of Welsh literature and history were also to be cultivated.Llandovery...
(where he became head boy
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
) and later as a university undergraduate.
He played rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for the Gwernyfed RFC club (near Brecon, as a junior and later for his school, as well as cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Powys County Junior teams. "My plan was to be a professional player for the Swansea RFC Ospreys (rugby team)," he says. "From the age of ten that was all I could think about – and I wasn't interested in singing any more." He undertook a stringent exercise programme and was "a gym fanatic who could bench-press 386lbs at 16."
Vocal training at Birmingham Conservatoire
Following a gap year teaching in a small school in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Rhydian won a bursary to the Birmingham Conservatoire at University of Central England (now known as Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
). He studied with Adrian Clarke and Christine Cairns. He was the first student from outside London to win the Kathleen Ferrier
Kathleen Ferrier
Kathleen Mary Ferrier CBE was an English contralto who achieved an international reputation as a stage, concert and recording artist, with a repertoire extending from folksong and popular ballads to the classical works of Bach, Brahms, Mahler and Elgar...
Society Bursary for Young Singers, and other accolades included the Reginald Vincent Lieder Prize, the 2007 Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza
right|thumb|[[MGM]] still, circa 1949Mario Lanza was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian emigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16....
Educational Award, and the Cecil Drew Oratorio Prize. While still a student, Rhydian played Morales in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
's semi-staged Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
. Among his many leading roles at the Conservatoire were Charley in Merrily We Roll Along
Merrily We Roll Along (musical)
Merrily We Roll Along is a musical with a book by George Furth and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. It is based on the 1934 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart....
and the title role in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. After graduating in 2007, Rhydian auditioned for the BBC's Any Dream Will Do
Any Dream Will Do (TV series)
Any Dream Will Do, often known as 'Joseph', was a 2007 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom. It searched for a new, unknown lead to play Joseph in a West End revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.The show...
.
2011
In 2011, Rhydian joined the UK Tours of two hit musicals, playing Khashoggi, Chief of Police in We Will Rock YouWe Will Rock You (musical)
We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor...
and guest-starring as "Teen Angel" in Grease.
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
He rejoins We Will Rock You at the Edinburgh Playhouse
Edinburgh Playhouse
The Edinburgh Playhouse is a former cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland which now hosts touring musicals and music concerts. Its capacity is 3,059, making it the UK's largest working theatre in terms of audience capacity....
(29 November - 7 January 2012).
On 1 March (St David's Day), Rhydian sang at his old high school in Llandovery during a visit by HRH The Prince of Wales. A busy August Bank Holiday included the opening night of the Gwyl Gobaith Festival, a 10th Birthday Concert of Wales Air Ambulance, which, said Rhydian, "is something close to my heart and saved the life of a neighbour of mine." The following day, he opened the 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. He is also performing on 10 December in a Christmas special at Bath Forum.
Rhydian's third CD album, Waves, included cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of many 1980s rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
hits. He also performed as a soloist on the CD To Where You Are with the Morriston Orpheus Choir. Rhydian fronted an eight-part television entertainment series for S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
, featuring, among its guest stars, Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
and Claire Jones
Claire Jones
Claire Jones is a former camogie player, winner of six All Ireland Camogie Championship medals with Kilkenny during their period of ascendancy in the 1980s.-Career:...
.
2008-10
Rhydian's debut album, RhydianRhydian (album)
Rhydian is the self-titled debut album by the 2007 X Factor runner-up Rhydian. It was released on 24 November 2008.The album charted at number 3 on the UK Album Chart with first week sales of over 90,000...
, was 2008's highest-selling album by a male newcomer. He sang at the Welsh Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
celebrations, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Sports Personality of the Year Awards, Andrew Lloyd Webber's
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
60th Birthday concert,
and at private functions internationally. Having heard Rhydian sing, HRH Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
invited him to become an ambassador of The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
. Rhydian sang at the Children of Courage Awards Ceremony at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. Television included The X Factor
The X Factor (UK series 5)
The fifth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in 2008. The series started on 16 August and was won by Alexandra Burke on 13 December, with new judge Cheryl Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April/May, with callbacks in front of the judges...
finals and Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...
's Christmas special.
2009 saw more than 600,000 albums sold, the release of Rhydian's second album, O Fortuna, and a 24-date solo tour of the UK. Television included the Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
charity telethon and Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise
Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional Christian hymns. It is a widely watched and long-running religious television programme, one of the few peak-time free-to-air religious programmes in Europe Songs of Praise is a BBC Television programme based around traditional...
(BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
), and his own special followed by a documentary, Rhydian, One Year On (S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
). Rhydian again entertained the Royal Family, at "The Prince's Trust Celebrates Success" Awards. He headlined a Liverpool Summer Pops Festival concert in the Echo Arena and switched on the Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
Christmas lights.
Between March and May 2010, Rhydian starred in three galas at London's Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
: the Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
Live concert as well as Classic Response
Classic Response
Classic Response is a charity fundraising event in aid of SOS Children's Villages. It first occurred on the 31st March 2005, in response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The Royal Albert Hall in London, is host to the concert...
and the Classical Brits Awards. He joined Conehead Records. Extensive charity commitments included the Lord Mayor of Cardiff’s Gala Concert, Christian Aid
Christian Aid
Christian Aid is the official relief and development agency of 40 British and Irish churches and works to support sustainable development, alleviate poverty, support civil society and provide disaster relief in South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia...
's concert, the charity single "The Prayer," and posing nude in Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
("Taking my kit off wasn't something I expected to do, but as it was for a great cause [prostate cancer] I changed my mind."). Rhydian entertained charity gala dinners for Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes is a British charity launched on 1 October 2007 to help provide better facilities for British servicemen and women wounded since September 11, 2001. It was founded by Bryn Parry OBE and his wife Emma Parry OBE after they visited soldiers at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham...
and for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), , observing:
I'm delighted to take part in this event. I had a very happy childhood in Wales, but I know that not all children are so lucky. The work done by the NSPCC is critical in helping to keep children safe. . . . I hope that by performing at this event, I can do my bit.
Rhydian opened the 2010 Super League Grand Final
2010 Super League Grand Final
The 2010 Super League Grand Final was the conclusive and championship-deciding game of Super League XV. Held on Saturday 2 October 2010, at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium, the match was contested by English clubs St Helens and Wigan Warriors...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
and the Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
at Celtic Manor. In Wales he sang in the closing concert of St David's Week Festival at Brangwyn Hall
Brangwyn Hall
The Brangwyn Hall is a concert venue in Swansea. It is named after the artist Frank Brangwyn, whose famous "panels", originally intended for the House of Lords, are displayed there....
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
and several concerts with Welsh male voice choirs, and returned to the The National Eisteddfod of Wales. Rhydian starred in the 2010 European tour of Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds - Live on Stage! He performed in Hayley Westenra
Hayley Westenra
Hayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
's Christmas Wishes at Birmingham's Symphony Hall and in Christmas concerts at the Barbican Hall
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
and the O2.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Album Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications and Sales |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
IRE Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
|||
| Rhydian Rhydian (album) Rhydian is the self-titled debut album by the 2007 X Factor runner-up Rhydian. It was released on 24 November 2008.The album charted at number 3 on the UK Album Chart with first week sales of over 90,000... |
|
3 | 7 |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Platinum (459,500) World World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth.... wide: 600,000+ |
| O Fortuna O Fortuna (album) O Fortuna is the second album by Welsh classical singer Rhydian. It was nominated for NS&I Album of the Year. The repertoire ranges over English, Welsh and Latin material, featuring four tracks written by Karl Jenkins, who also produced it... |
Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
25 | 61 |
British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold (100,000+) |
| Waves Waves (Rhydian album) Waves is the third album by Welsh singer Rhydian. It was released on 1 August 2011 in the United Kingdom. It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 39 on 7 August 2011.-Tracklist:-Chart performance:-Release history:-External links:*... |
Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , Digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
39 | — | |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|||
| 2008 | "The Impossible Dream" | 91 | Rhydian |
| 2010 | "The Prayer" | — | Charity Single |
| 2011 | "Parade" | — | Waves |
The X Factor (2007)
In retrospect, Rhydian has said: "I’m very proud of what I achieved on X Factor. I’m a showman and it gave me the chance to put on a show". His appearances included:- A full theatrical account of "The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera (song)"The Phantom of the Opera" is a song from the stage musical of the same name, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, sung by Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford, lyrics written by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and additional lyrics by Mike Batt...
", about which judge Louis WalshLouis WalshLouis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
opined, "You've got star quality, you've got presence, and this show's going to change your life." - Shirley BasseyShirley BasseyDame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
's version of PinkPink (singer)Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
's "Get The Party StartedGet the Party Started"Get the Party Started" is a song performed by Pink, and was the first single from her second album, Missundaztood . It became an international hit and reached the top ten in many countries. The song was Pink's highest selling at that time...
" in a fur coat and sequin-covered suit - The Village People's version of "Go WestGo West (song)"Go West" is a song by the 1970s disco group Village People. The song eventually found greater success when it was covered in 1993 by the synthpop duo Pet Shop Boys.-Village People version:...
" in Navy Officer uniform surrounded by male backing singers in sailor outfits.
Powerful performances of, among others, "You Raise Me Up
You Raise Me Up
"You Raise Me Up" was the debut single from Westlife's fifth studio album, Face To Face.This version is considered by many to be the most popular , of all the various versions of the same song. The single peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's 13th Number One. It was the first...
, " and "I Vow to Thee, My Country" made Rhydian favourite to win, while his rendition of "Somewhere" moved judge Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
to tears: "I can't even speak, that was so beautiful." Of his "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
said "Rhydian, I thought that was bloody fantastic ... and I think probably your best performance, if not THE best performance of the competition so far."
During his audition for X Factor, Rhydian had been openly self-assured and ambitious. Judges found him both perplexing and talented, and his eventual mentor Dannii Minogue gave the only "no" vote. Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne....
was reported to have found him arrogant, although these tensions softened in time. Later in the series, Simon Cowell averred: "[Rhydian] is incredibly polite and respectful. He stands out because he has an incredible voice." Reportedly concerned about potentially negative aspects of the film editing, Rhydian likened his portrayal during the series to that of a "pantomime villain".
Notwithstanding his fears, Rhydian eventually won over public opinion. Overhauling his image, he impressed as a spectacular and unpredictable performer, and "his trademark white hair and flamboyant dress sense made him an audience favourite immediately" He duetted in the final with Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins
Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs across a spectrum of operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre and hymns.-Early life and education:...
, whom he had long admired. Despite finishing as runner-up, Rhydian was offered a recording contract with Sony BMG by Simon Cowell the next day.
External links
- Rhydian Roberts at BBC Wales
- Rhydian Roberts biography from BBC Wales Music
- What's On Wales interview
- "Rhydian's new album" movie video at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- Rhydian on Premier Christian TV