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Rhydian Roberts

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For his self-titled album, see Rhydian (album).

Rhydian Roberts
Background information
Birth nameRhydian James Roberts
Born (1983-02-14) 14 February 1983 (age 41)
Sennybridge, Wales
GenresMusical theatre, classical crossover, opera, Operatic pop, Wagnerian rock
Occupation(s)Singer, musical theatre actor, television presenter
Years active2007–2023
LabelsSony, Syco, Conehead
Websitewww.rhydian-roberts.co.uk

Rhydian James Roberts (born 14 February 1983), also known mononymously as Rhydian, is a Welsh former baritone singer, television presenter and musical theatre actor. He rose to fame in series 4 of The X Factor (2007), and subsequently became less widely known. Rhydian Roberts retired from performing in February 2023 with a farewell album.[1] He is currently an artist manager at Neil O'Brien Entertainment.[1]

Early years

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Born in Sennybridge, Rhydian attended the Pontsenni Cylch Meithrin in Brecon and then Ysgol y Bannau Welsh medium school. He played rugby union for the Gwernyfed rugby football club as a junior and later for his school, as well as cricket for Powys County Junior teams.[2][3] Following a gap year teaching in a small school in South Africa, Rhydian won a bursary to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire at the University of Central England.[4]

Career

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The X Factor

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Rhydian has said: "I'm very proud of what I achieved on X Factor.[5] I'm a showman and it gave me the chance to put on a show".[6] Amongst other songs, he sang:

During the live stages of competition, eventually his "trademark white hair and flamboyant dress sense made him an audience favourite."[9] His version of "The Impossible Dream" became the keynote track on his first album.[10]

Recordings

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  • 2008's highest-selling album by a male newcomer (600,000 copies), was Rhydian's eponymous debut, Rhydian. It incorporated material by Jim Steinman[11][12]
  • His second, O Fortuna (2009), co-produced by composer Karl Jenkins,[13] included duets with Kiri te Kanawa and Bryn Terfel. Rhydian was a guest on Morriston Orpheus Choir's CD To Where You Are (Sain, 2011).[14]
  • There were two further albums during 2011: Waves, with covers of classic 1980s pop[15][6] and Caneuon Cymraeg (Welsh Songs), a mix of classic Welsh songs and original songs.
  • Returning to his core repertoire of classics and pop anthems, Rhydian's fifth album, One Day Like This featured duets with Kerry Ellis and Bonnie Tyler.[16] Within a week of release, it topped the Official Classical Album Chart, occupying the spot for ten weeks. It also reached 19 in the UK Albums Chart,[17] and topped the Classic FM Chart.[17]
  • In 2015, he released Carry the Fire, an album inspired by the Rugby World Cup 2015. It included his version of "World In Union" - which was the official song of the Rugby World Cup - and songs related to all of the Home Nations.[18]
  • His seventh album, The Long Road, was released in 2018 and added to Spotify in 2020. It includes covers of "Castle on the Hill" by Ed Sheeran, and "The Sound of Silence" by Paul Simon.
  • Rhydian's eighth album was released in February 2023, and became his second album to top the UK Classical Albums Chart (after One Day Like This).[19] He has announced it will be his final studio album, before ending his recording career with a Greatest Hits album later in the year.[20]

Concerts, galas and solo tours

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  • Rhydian toured the UK in 2008, 2013 and 2014–15. His third tour was names after his fifth record album, "One Day Like This".[21]
  • During 2018 he toured the UK in Les Musicals, co-starring with Jonathan Ansell.[22]

Stage

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Television

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  • During 2009, Rhydian, One Year On was aired by S4C.[32]
  • In 2011, Rhydian presented an eight-part television entertainment series for S4C,[33][34] with his album Caneuon Cymraeg (Welsh Songs) being released to tie in with it.

Final record album

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In February 2023, Rhydian Roberts announced his retirement from singing and released a final album:

"I’ve enjoyed my career. It's been 15 years since The X Factor, I’ve released eight albums already, and I just wanted to sign off my singing career with a couple of releases. One classical album and then later on in the year I'm doing a Best Of which has all my favourite songs from the pop world, musical theatre, and classical. That’ll be it then – I'm hanging up my recording voice."[1]

Retirement and career change

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Rhydian currently works as an artist manager at Neil O'Brien Entertainment.

Discography

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Main article: Rhydian Roberts discography

References

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  1. ^ a b c "X Factor star Rhydian Roberts announces retirement as he reflects on turning 40" Sam Cook, Wales Online, 18 Feb 2023. Accessed 9 September 2023
  2. ^ "Cricket: 'My brush with Rhydian'". Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  3. ^ Souster, Mark (2 February 2008). "Change of tune that led to fame for Rhydian Roberts". The Times.
  4. ^ "bcu.ac.uk 2". Archived from the original on 14 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Rhydian Roberts". classicfm.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  6. ^ a b "X-factor's Rhydian to go from Opera star to pop star," Rachel Mainwaring, Wales on Sunday, 24 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  7. ^ TheXFactorUK (3 November 2007). "X Factor 4, ep 13, Rhydian (itv.com/xfactor)". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2012 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ TheXFactorUK (17 November 2007). "X Factor 4, ep 15, Rhydian (itv.com/xfactor)". Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2012 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Rhydian biography from Classic FM website. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  10. ^ Rhydian (2008), recorded for Sony BMG, who offered him a recording contract the day after finishing as runner-up. He fulfilled a long-held dream by duetting in the final with Katherine Jenkins."ICWales".
  11. ^ Apple iTunes website Accessed 21 April 2014.
  12. ^ Upon release, the album charted at number 3, selling over 150,000 in its first two weeks and over 300,000 after four weeks to win Platinum Album status as awarded by the BPI.
  13. ^ "Exclusive: X Factor loser Rhydian set for new album.. while Leon Jackson is dumped by label". Daily Record. Scotland. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  14. ^ Rhydian performs lead vocals in "Stars" (Les Misérables), "Bui Doi" (Miss Saigon), and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (Carousel).
  15. ^ Interview in OK Magazine Archived 13 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Ok.co.uk, Retrieved 7 January 2011]
  16. ^ Pledge Music website: projects page, Pledgemusic.com, Accessed 24 March 2014.
  17. ^ a b The Classic FM Chart. Classic.fm, Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Carry The Fire". Rhydian-roberts.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Rhydian - Official Store - Rhydian - Classical Album - Hymns, Songs & Arias (Signed) Limited Edition CD". Rhydian.tmstor.es. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  20. ^ Cook, Sam (18 February 2023). "X Factor star Rhydian Roberts announces retirement". WalesOnline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  21. ^ Tickets section of Rhydian Roberts official fansite Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  22. ^ Tour itinerary and dates. Ents24.com, Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  23. ^ War of the Worlds tour website Archived 23 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 21 April 2014. Composer Jeff Wayne described him as "an incredibly talented singer whose range and depth of voice will suit this role perfectly."
  24. ^ Queen News. Retrieved 25 August 2010. Rhydian performed in Cardiff, Southampton and Birmingham.
  25. ^ Other guest "Teen Angels" on this tour included Robin Cousins and Mary Byrne. See Grease website Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 July 2011. See also "Rhydian Roberts to Star in GREASE UK Tour," from broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 31 July 2011. Rhydian played at Blackpool, Sunderland, Liverpool F.C., Norwich, and Edinburgh.
  26. ^ "Press release Tuesday, October 16th, 2012". TimeWarp The Official UK Rocky Horror Fan Club. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  27. ^ Paul Vale, "Beauty and the Beast", The Stage, 12 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014
  28. ^ Official website, news blog Archived 19 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 November 2015
  29. ^ Directed by Bill Kenwright and Bob Thomson. He played in Bromley, Cardiff, Dublin, Blackpool, Northampton, and Liverpool. See Official website Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  30. ^ Tour schedule and venue in Douglas Mayo, "Little Shop of Horrors 2016", Britishtheatre.com website, 7 March 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016
  31. ^ "2 Aug: Rhydian to star as Abanazer in Aladdin". Rhydian-roberts.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  32. ^ S4C Adloniant, "Rhydian" Archived 22 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 November 2015
  33. ^ Guests included Hayley Westenra and Claire Jones
  34. ^ "Rhydian". S4C. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
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