French opera star Benjamin Bernheim — celebrated for his performances at the Paris Olympics closing ceremonies and the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral — will make his Princeton University Concerts debut on Thursday, February 5, at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium. Joined by pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson, the tenor appears on the Princeton University Concerts (PUC) series for the first time in what will be one of only two recital appearances in the United States this season.

The program centers on Bernheim’s debut solo album, Douce France: Mélodies & Chanson, which brings together French melodies by Hector Berlioz, Ernest Chausson, and Henri Duparc with classic chansons by Jacques Brel, Joseph Kosma, and Charles Trenet. Seeking to restore the intimacy of these works — some now more often heard with orchestra — Bernheim partnered with his longtime piano collaborator, who created new piano transcriptions for their program together. The repertoire also includes Spanish and South American songs by Federico Mompou, Joaquín Turina, and Alberto Ginastera, alongside operatic selections by Giacomo Puccini.

Bernheim is best known for leading roles at the Opéra national de Paris, the Metropolitan Opera, the Wiener Staatsoper, Staatsoper Berlin, Teatro alla Scala, and London’s Royal Opera House. His upcoming recital is an opportunity to hear this artist in a chamber setting, performing music closest to his heart.

“Our 2025–26 tagline, Swoon for Music, was largely inspired by Benjamin Bernheim and this very program,” said PUC Director Marna Seltzer. “We are thrilled to welcome him to Princeton for the first time for PUC’s first concert of 2026 — and what a breathtaking way to begin the year.”

Visit puc.princeton.edu or call (609) 258-9220 for tickets and more information.