Last Monday, Benjamin Bernheim made his Madrid debut in the prestigious CNDM Ciclo de Lied at the Teatro de la Zarzuela, offering a recital with unanimous enthusiasm from both the audience and the specialized press.
Accompanied by the pianist Borja Mariño, the tenor presented a program of great ambition and artistic coherence, conceived as a journey through more than a century of musical poetry. The program was largely devoted to French mélodie, with works by Gounod, Hahn, Chausson, Berlioz, and Duparc, and was completed in the second half with songs by Mompou, Turina, and Ginastera.
Critics highlighted, with emphasis, the excellence of the tenor’s voice and artistry. Scherzo placed him among the greats, stating that “Benjamin Bernheim can be incorporated, without the slightest doubt, into the ranks of the great singers” and highlighting his possession of “a naturally beautiful and generous vocal instrument, brilliant and fearless in the upper register, full-bodied and well-timbered in the middle”, as well as “impeccable diction and an exquisitely recitation of French verse”.
Following the same line, Platea Magazine highlighted the technical and stylistic excellence of the recital: “diction, intelligibility, richness of phrasing, musical color, control of emission, legato, elegance, and musical line… all of it was present, and in remarkable fashion, in Benjamin Bernheim’s recital”. The critic also noted that in Berlioz he “achieved one of the peak moments of the concert, reaching the very core of the audience”.
CNDM | Elvira Megías
Codalario emphasized both the ambition of the program and its overall impact, describing the recital as “a program so carefully crafted, diverse, and well executed… that it ended up disarming, winning over, and even exciting the audience, who rose to their feet in surrender to Benjamin Bernheim”.
The enthusiasm continued during the encores, with “Pourquoi me réveiller” (Werther by Massenet), described by Platea Magazine as “simply memorable”, which literally brought the audience to its feet, followed by a reading of “E lucevan le stelle” (Tosca by Puccini), sealing a night of genuine triumph.
Benjamin Bernheim’s next encounters with Spanish audiences will take place on May 19th at the Palau de la Música Catalana, and on May 21st in the Ibermúsica series at the Auditorio Nacional de Música, where he joins the cast of Verdi’s Requiem under the direction of Daniele Gatti, leading the Staatskapelle Dresden.
This Madrid debut marks a new milestone in Benjamin Bernheim’s career and confirms his position as one of the leading reference voices on today’s vocal scene.
