Benjamin Bernheim returns to Bordeaux, after his success as Des Grieux in Manon, this time in concert, on November 27. A selection of arias from his recently released debut album will be featured, along with duets with soprano Adriana Gonzalez.  The Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine joins him at the Auditorium de l'Opéra de Bordeaux under the baton of Oleksandr Yankevych.

PROGRAM:

La Forza del Destino / Verdi
Ouverture

Lucia di Lammermoor / Donizetti
« Tombe degli avi miei »
Benjamin Bernheim

Carmen / Bizet
«Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante.. »
Adriana Gonzalez

Roméo et Juliette / Gounod
« Ah lève toi, soleil ! »
Benjamin Bernheim

L'Elisir d'Amore / Donizetti
« Una parola...Esulti pur la barbara »
Benjamin Bernheim et Adriana Gonzalez

Eugène Oneguine / Tchaikovski
Polonaise
« Kuda, Kuda... »
Benjamin Bernheim

La Damnation de Faust / Berlioz
« Nature immense »
Benjamin Bernheim

Cavalleria Rusticana / Mascagni
Intermezzo

Roméo et Juliette / Gounod
« Va, je t’ai pardonné »
Benjamin Bernheim et Adriana Gonzalez

Tickets and additional information here.

Particularly known for his interpretation of Italian and French roles, Benjamin Bernheim's debut as Il Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto at the Bayerische Staatsoper is highly anticipated. As the lecherous and debouched Duke, Bernheim plays against Ludovic Tezier as Rigoletto and Erin Morley as Gilda. The first in Verdi’s popular operatic trilogy, Rigoletto has been likened to Shakespearean tragedy. The story of Rigoletto revolves around the libertine Duke and his hunchbacked court jester, Rigoletto, whose daughter Gilda falls under a tragic curse, which, in true operatic form, has an equally tragic outcome. As director Arpad Schilling says, Verdi is “…able to tell a story in such a way that it shivers.” As will our spines certainly shiver as we listen to Bernheim’s interpretation of debauchery and licentiousness. November 7, 10, 13

Tickets and additional information here.

Listen to Benjamin sing Duca's aria, included on his soon to be released debut album, here.

Following his highly acclaimed performances as Alfredo in La Traviata at the Opéra national de Paris, Mr. Bernheim explores the recital format at La Grange au Lac in Evian, France, as part of the series Voix d’automne. He will perform works from his new album as well as singing Berlioz's Les Nuits d’été for the first time. The full program includes:

BERLIOZ Les Nuits d’été

BERLIOZ « Nature Immense » extrait de la Damnation de Faust (air de Faust)

GOUNOD « L’amour, oui son ardeur » extrait de Roméo et Juliette (air de Roméo)

MASSENET « En fermant les yeux » extrait de Manon (air de Des Grieux)

TCHAÏKOVSKI « Kuda, kuda » extrait d’Eugène Onéguine (air de Lenski)

The recital is performed with the Orchestre des Pays de Savoie, conducted by Nicolas Chalvin, and will be broadcast live on Radio Classique.

Tickets and additional information are available here.

Benjamin Bernheim's eagerly awaited debut album with Deutsche Grammophon is now available for pre-order, ahead of its release on November 9th. The first track off the album, "De'miei bolenti spiriti" is also now available on your preferred streaming platform.

Pre-order here.

With “pin sharp” diction and his unique interpretation of the role, Benjamin Bernheim returns to Palais Garnier in Paris as Alfredo Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata. Abandoning the predictable swagger of a Latin romancer, Bernheim humanizes Alfredo as a sincere and fervent—if initially insecure—lover. Rather than bluster and bravado, we are treated to tender resolve, the exuberance of newfound passion, and the wreck and ruin of heartbreak as this remarkable tenor manages sustained vocal lines that are evocative as well as beautiful. As Alfredo, Bernheim joins the dazzling Pretty Yonde as Violetta, and performs under the baton of Michele Mariotti, who has achieved pre-eminence in bel canto opera.

September 12, 15,21,24, 28 and October 1,4.

Tickets and additional information are available here.

A live recording of the 1859 version of Gounod's Faust will be released on August 23rd, as part of the Palazzetto Bru Zane project. The recording was captured in June 2018 at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris with Mr. Bernheim in the title role. Marguerite is sung by Véronique Gens, while Andrew Foster-Williams performs Méphistophélès, and Jean-Sébastien Bou sings Valentin. This never before recorded version of Gounod's masterpiece includes spoken dialogue and several different musical numbers including: Méphistophélès’ aria “Maître Scarabée, ”the trio of Faust/Wagner/Siebel “À l’étude ô mon maître”, the duet of Valentin/Marguerite “Adieu, mon bon frère!”, Siebel’s romance “Versez vos chagrins dans mon âme!” the witches’ chorus “Un deux et trois,” and Valentin’s aria with chorus “Chaque jour, nouvelle affaire.”

Mr. Bernheim's performance in the role has been praised as "exemplairy" with a "stunning timbre" and "elegant phrasing" (Online Merker). 

The CD can be purchased here.

As Ismaele, Benjamin Bernheim makes his role debut in Nabucco at Opernhaus Zürich, adding yet another Verdi role to his repertoire. In this story of Hebrew subjugation, the chorus of slaves implores with longing for basic human freedom, singing the famous Va, pensiero. Conductor Fabio Luise, keeps passions urgent.

A case where art imitates life, the opera Nabucco catapulted to high acclaim as it was understood to mirror the political turmoil of Verdi’s Italy. Frankly, Verdi felt it was Nabucco that fully launched his fame and place in the opera world. As an ardent story of human suffering and emancipation, Nabucco resonates with anyone seeking justice where it is found lacking. Bernheim joins Michael Volle as Nabucco, Anna Smirnova as Abigail, and Georg Zeppenfeld as Zaccaria in this new Andreas Homoki production.

Dates include June 23, 26, 29 and July 2,5,9 and 12, and tickets are available here.

“… the major French lyric tenor the opera world is longing for.” Chicago Tribune

Bernheim’s debut DG album, recorded with the Prague Philharmonia and its chief conductor Emmanuel Villaume, to be released in autumn 2019

Deutsche Grammophon is pleased to announce that it has signed an exclusive long-term contract with Benjamin Bernheim. The 33-year-old French lyric tenor has already secured his international reputation as one of the leading tenors of the new generation of singers.

Bernheim will launch his relationship with DG with an album of French, Italian and Russian arias. Scheduled for worldwide release in autumn 2019, it will capture his interpretations of the classic young tenor roles, featuring works by many of the composers central to his operatic repertoire, including Gounod, Massenet, Donizetti, Puccini, Verdi and Tchaikovsky.

“Opera has the power to touch people’s souls and enrich their lives, and I’m happy that I’ll be able to reach a broader audience worldwide in partnership with DG,” says Bernheim. “I’m delighted to have recorded my first DG album with the Prague Philharmonia and Emmanuel Villaume, exploring a range of roles that suit my voice so well right now.”

Dr Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon, welcomed Bernheim to the Yellow Label. “Benjamin owns much more than a sublime voice,” he notes. “He is always searching for those vital elements that lie beneath the music’s surface, demonstrating a combination of intuition and empathy as well as technical mastery. We’re determined to introduce this remarkable young star to a large new audience, and show why he’s in such high demand at the world’s leading opera companies.”

Valérie Gross, DG’s A&R Director Vocal & Opera Productions, added, “He’s got it all: voice, charisma, looks and an uncanny ability to communicate with people – watch out for this exceptional singer!”

Benjamin Bernheim was born in Paris in 1985. After studying in Lausanne, he joined Zurich Opera’s Opera Studio in 2008, returning to the company two years later as a member of its renowned ensemble. He is now in demand in leading roles at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, having sung Rodolfo (La bohème) at Covent Garden, the Opéra de Paris and the Vienna Staatsoper; Alfredo (La traviata) at La Scala, Milan, Berlin Staatsoper and Zurich Opera; Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore) at the Vienna Staatsoper; Lenski (Eugene Onegin) at the Deutsche Oper Berlin; and the title role in Faust at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. He has also appeared in several productions at the Salzburg Whitsun and Summer festivals. He began this season by reprising the role of Rodolfo in Zurich, and then went on to give his first performance of the Verdi Requiem at Covent Garden, conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. He makes his highly anticipated role debut as Des Grieux in Manon at Opéra national de Bordeaux on 5 April, and debuts the role of Ismaele in Nabucco in Zurich in June. This season has also brought great critical acclaim, including this review for his appearance as Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) at the Vienna Staatsoper: “With his warm, golden-toned tenor and wonderful stage presence he showed … why he is known as one of the most interesting tenors of our day” (Die Presse). In December 2018, he was named a Rolex Testimonee.

In the 2019-20 season Bernheim will return to the Opéra de Paris as Alfredo and Des Grieux in new productions of La traviata and Manon respectively. He will also make his role and house debut as the Duke in Rigoletto at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, with other highlights of the coming season including his appearances in La Bohème in Munich and Paris and La traviata at both the Berlin and the Vienna Staatsoper.

Opéra national de Bordeaux welcomes Benjamin Bernheim in Massenet’s Manon in April 2019, as he makes his highly anticipated role debut as the Chevalier Des Grieux. Considered an opera comique, Manon is a five-act performance that covers universal themes of love, both pure and unrequited, and the conflict that comes with impulse and desire. At the Grand-Théâtre in Bordeaux, this piece is interpreted by famed French director Olivier Py. Marc Minkowsky weaves magic with baton and punctuates the score with his usual panache, as American soprano Nadine Sierra sings the title role, and French baritone Alexandre Duhamel sings Lescaut. A discussion on the opera will be given on April 2nd at the opera house, and a lunch conference on the 4th to prepare the audience for this beloved masterpiece. Ben assumes the role of Chevalier Des Grieux on April 5, 8, 10 and 14.

Tickets and additional information are available here.

Mr. Bernheim makes his role debut in his second Puccini piece of the season, Messa di Gloria, in London at the Barbican Centre on March 3rd. This is the tenor's second Mass with Maestro Pappano this season, Verdi's Requiem at the Royal Opera House in October being his first. Mr. Bernheim is joined by Canadian bass-baritone Gerald Finley, the London Symphony Orchestra and the and the London Symphony Chorus. Though Puccini wrote this mass in 1878 as his graduation exercise from the Instituto Musicale Pacini, it was not reprised until 1952, to resounding acclaim. This musical treat will also be broadcast on Medici TV.

Tickets and additional information are available here.

From the Royal Opera House to Teatro alla Scala, tenor Benjamin Bernheim continues to delight in his acclaimed role of Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata. In London, under the baton of maestro Antonello Manacorda, Benjamin joins a cast of superb talents including American soprano Angel Blue as Violetta, and Italian baritone Simone Piazzola as Germont. His first performance is on January 24th, and Mr. Bernheim finishes the month of January in London with subsequent performances on the 26th, 29th, and 31st. Additional information and tickets are available here.

In Milan, his performance is eagerly awaited as the "tra i più brillanti tenori emergenti " (Connessi all'Opera). Myung-Whun Chung conducts, while Marina Rebeka sings Violetta, and Leo Nucci sings Georgio Germont. Performances are February 2nd, 5th, and 8th.

Next, Mr. Bernheim returns to London to work with Maestro Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra on Puccini's Messa di Gloria, on March 3rd at the Barbican Centre.

Mr. Bernheim made his house debut as Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte on December 15th at the Wiener Staatsoper to rave reviews. Die Presse enthused:

"With his beautifully timbred, warm tenor of great charisma, he shows – not only in a grandiose portrait-aria “- why he is called one of the most interesting tenors of our time: the rich, expressive sound and his ability to sing long lyric lines made his Tamino the event of the evening."

While Online Merkur similarly heralded him as "one of the most promising lyric tenors of the next generation of singers."

The French tenor sings opposite Valentina Naforniţa as Pamina, Rene Pape as Sarastro, Hila Fahima as The Queen of the Night, and Clemens Unterreiner as Papageno. Adam Fischer conducts, and the production is by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier. Tickets for subsequent performances, December 18, 22, 26, 28, and 30, can be purchased here.

Photo: Pöhn/Wiener Staatsoper

Mr. Bernheim has been named as a Rolex Testimonee. In a statement on social media, the tenor said:

"I am honored to be a Rolex Testimonee. Rolex has a long history of supporting the arts, and I am proud to continue their vision to encourage individual excellence."

He is part of a select group of fellow artists, including Plácido Domingo, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Jonas Kaufmann, Sonya Yoncheva, Sir Bryn Terfel, Juan Diego Flórez, and Cecilia Bartoli.

On its website, Rolex praises the tenor's talent and outstanding career:

"Recognized for the purity of his beautiful voice, the immense depth of his musical expression and eloquent performances, French tenor Benjamin Bernheim has been captivating audiences at the world’s leading opera houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Zürich Opera House, the Opéra National de Paris and Chicago’s Lyric Opera. The extraordinarily gifted tenor has sung a number of iconic arias and diverse roles – from Lensky to Rodolfo and Faust – earning him a reputation as one of today’s most acclaimed opera singers."

Rolex is also committed to supporting cultural institutions – many of which the tenor will perform in the coming months, adding to his successful season. These include the Royal Opera House, the Opéra National de Paris and the Teatro alla Scala. Additional information and a complete list can be found on the Rolex website.

Mr. Bernheim performs his second role of the season at the Wiener Staatsoper in Vienna, as he tackles the role of Rodolfo in Puccini's beloved classic, La bohème. This role has become one of the young tenor's signature roles, having already performed it in five different productions throughout Europe. The press has lauded his Rodolfo as having an "aching, ringing purity," and "sincere and touching."   This time in Vienna, he performs opposite Marina Rebeka as Mimì in the traditionally staged Zeffirelli production. Speranza Scappucci conducts, while Clemens Unterreiner performs the role of Marcello, Mariam Battistelli sings Musetta, Samuel Hasselhorn performs Schaunard and Ryan Speedo Green sings Colline.

Performances are on November 23rd, 26th and 29th, and the performance on the 29th will be broadcast live online here.

Benjamin Bernheim will become one of the first opera singers to use instagram live to broadcast his recital from Paris on November 12th. Already an established artist on the platform, Mr. Bernheim (@benbernheimtenor) is looking forward to sharing his sold-out recital with followers around the world.  The recital is part of the series, L'INSTANT LYRIQUE, which features outstanding artists in the intimate setting of a former Parisian mansion. He will be joined by pianist Antoine Palloc, and mezzo-soprano Eve-Maude Hubeaux as he performs a program of arias and duets, including Lensky's aria, "Kuda, Kuda," Tamino's aria "Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön," the duet from Werther and Des Grieux's aria "En ferment des yeux," a role Bernheim will debut later this season at the Opéra national de Bordeaux. The recital starts at 8:00 pm Paris time.

This season, Mr. Bernheim performs three leading roles at the prestigious Wiener Staatsoper. He begins with the role of Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, which he debuted last season, to great acclaim. Performances are on October 31st, November 5th and 8th. Mr. Bernheim sings opposite Aida Garifullina as Adina, Orhan Yildiz as Belcore, Paolo Rumetz as Doktor Dulcamara, and Mariam Battistelli as Giannetta. Speranza Scappucci conducts. The final performance will be broadcast live on the Wiener Staatsoper website here.

Following the final performance, Benjamin travels to Paris to perform in recital with Antoine Palloc as part of the L'instant Lyrique recital series. The November 12th performance will be streamed live on his instagram account: @benbernheimtenor.

Mr. Bernheim then returns to the Wiener Staatsoper to perform the role of Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Rodolfo in La bohème. 

October 23rd marked Benjamin Bernheim's debut in the tenor role of Verdi's Requiem surrounded by a stellar cast, conducted by Maestro Antonio Pappano. The monumental piece was performed at the Royal Opera House in London to celebrate 50th anniversary of the receipt of the Royal Charter. American Jamie Barton sang the mezzo role, while Lise Davidsen replaced Krassimira Stoyanova who had fallen ill, and Hugarian Gàbor Bretz sang the bass role.

Mr. Bernheim performance was praised by several members of the press, including The Times, that commented:

"Benjamin Bernheim brought elegance and power to the tenor’s solos, with a splendidly sustained Ingemisco and a Hostias, by contrast, that was delivered in childlike supplication."

The Financial Times, called his performance "highly sensitive," while Opera Spy lauded his "wonderful Italianate tenor sound with a great falsetto, " and the "silky smooth sound throughout his range."

The performance was broadcast live on the BBC3 Radio, and if available for a limited amount of time here.

Benjamin reprises the role of Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore at the Wiener Staatsoper next, then continues on to Paris where he performs in recital on November 12th.

Mr. Bernheim has just announced his 2018/19 season, which brings him to La Scala, The Royal Opera House in London, and the Wiener Staatsoper among others. He opens his season at the Opernhaus Zürich with one of his signature roles, Rodolfo, in Puccini’s La bohème on September 29th. He reprises this beloved role later in the season at the Wiener Staatsoper, in November, in the famed Zeffirelli production. Alfredo in Verdi’s La traviata is a central part of his 2018/19 season, with productions at the La Scala and The Royal Opera House in London. Mr. Bernheim performs in two other Verdi pieces in this upcoming season: Verdi’s Requiem, and Nabucco. The Requiem will be performed just once, on October 23rd, conducted by Maestro Pappano, and Nabucco brings a close to Mr. Bernheim’s season at the Opernhaus Zürich in June and July 2019. After having made his house debut at the Wiener Staatsoper this past season, Mr. Bernheim returns for a total of three roles: Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Rodolfo in La bohème, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. While Mr. Bernheim returns to several of his most celebrated roles, he makes an exciting role debut as Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon at the Opéra national de Bordeaux in the spring of 2019. Conducted by Marc Minkowski, the production is by Olivier Py.

Mr. Bernheim's 2017/18 season began in Berlin at the Deutsche Oper with his role debut as Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata, a role he would sing a total of three times during the season, including at the Staatsoper Berlin and Opernhaus Zürich. Rodolfo in La bohème was the next role he tackled, performing the role in two opera houses: first at the Royal Opera House in London, and next in Paris at the Opéra national de Paris. The Claus Guth production in Paris caused waves in the opera world, as it was set in space; Mr. Bernheim was universally praised for his stellar performance. Opera Online commented:

"Aujourd’hui, Benjamin Bernheim est assurément à l’aube d’une grande carrière : les plus grandes maisons s’intéressent à lui, son répertoire se diversifie sans s’alourdir prématurément, sa présence en scène s’affine, tout fait qu’on doit profiter de cette Bohème parisienne pour le découvrir (ou le retrouver) !”

Following the conclusion of this run in Paris, he sang a solo recital at Opéra national de Bordeaux, which was broadcast by Medici.tv. His house debut at the Wiener Staatsoper was next, with his role debut as Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore providing the vehicle for this occasion. Yet another debut was next, this time in North America at the Lyric Opera Chicago. There, he sang the title role in a new production of Faust. The Chicago Tribune enthused,  "Bernheim sounded very much like the major French lyric tenor the opera world is longing for."

Returning to his native France, a recital at the Philharmonie de Paris was Mr. Bernheim's next engagement, as he performed in concert with soprano Olga Peretyatko. The 1859 version of Faust was another important engagement in Paris in Mr. Bernheim's 2017/18 season. This rarely performed version was met with great excitement when performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in June 2018.

After receiving rave reviews for his performance of Faust in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Mr. Bernheim returns to Zürich to perform the role of Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata at the Opernhaus Zürich. This is Mr. Berheim's third time performing the role this season, having performed it earlier at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Staatsoper Berlin. In this David Hermann production, Mr. Bernheim is joined by Ailyn Pérez as Violetta, and Quinn Kelsey as Giogrio Germont, while Fabio Luisi leads from the pit. The run opens on July 6th, with additional performances the 8th, 11th, 13th and 15th. Mr. Bernheim then ends his season in London, where he will perform the role of Rodolfo in La bohème at the Royal Opera House on July 20th.

It has just been announced that Mr. Bernheim will be performing in the title role in Gounod's Faust at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, on June 14th. This is the third time the French tenor tackles the role, having premiered the role in Riga at the Latvian National Opera, and at the Lyric Opera Chicago. This time the tenor performs Faust in his birth city of Paris in concert. The original 1859 score is to be used, which includes some pieces that were cut from today’s most commonly performed version, and spoken text.

The press was delighted by Mr. Bernheim's American debut in the role earlier this season, claiming that he was “the major French lyric tenor the opera world is longing for” (Chicago Tribune), and “showcasing an expressive and powerful voice that manages to be both clear and silky smooth while remaining utterly French” (Stage and Cinema). Fellow French opera singer Véronique Gens sings opposite as Marguerite, Andrew Foster-Williams sings Méphistophélès, Jean-Sébastien Bou sings Valentin, and Christophe Rousset conducts. Tickets are available here.