Benjamin Bernheim

Tenor Benjamin Bernheim is one of Europe's rising operatic stars, with a substantial repertory of French, Italian, and occasionally German roles. Bernheim released his debut solo album on the Deutsche Grammophon label in 2019. He followed that up in 2022 with Boulevard des Italiens. Bernheim was born in Paris in 1985. He grew up in Geneva, Switzerland, where he took violin and piano lessons as a child. When he enrolled at a local conservatory for voice lessons at 10, he quickly found his calling. At 18, he entered the (then) HEM Lausanne Conservatory, studying with Gary Magby. Bernheim continued his training as part of the Zurich Opera House's Opera Studio, beginning in 2008. In 2010, he joined the house's main troupe, performing in, among other works, the world premiere of Marc-André Dalbavie's Gesualdo and gaining experience in various smaller roles. He sang in a concert version of Mozart's Il re pastore, K. 208, at the Salzburg Festival, conducted by historical performance pioneer William Christie. Around 2015, Bernheim began to snare lead roles at top opera houses. His repertory includes familiar tenor roles such as Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème, Alfredo in Verdi's La traviata, and the title role in Gounod's Faust. Bernheim has also been an enthusiastic concert performer in such works as Verdi's Requiem and Puccini's Messa di Gloria. While continuing to appear frequently at the Zurich Opera House, he has also performed at many of Europe's top houses, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Staatsoper in Vienna, and La Scala in Milan. Signed to the Deutsche Grammophon label in 2019, Bernheim released his self-titled debut album in November of that year, featuring arias by Massenet, Donizetti, and Benjamin Godard, among others. He began the 2019-2020 season as Alfredo in a new production of La traviata at the Opéra National de Paris. In 2020, Bernheim's debut album earned a Diapason d'Or, Choc de Classica, and he was named Opera Singer of the Year by the Victoires de la Musique Awards. The following year, he was named a Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Bernheim's sophomore album for Deutsche Grammophon, Boulevard des Italiens, offering a collection of French arias written by Italian composers, was issued in 2022; he was joined on this recording by Frédéric Chaslin leading the Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna.
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