“Power, intensity, sweetness, sensuality, skillfully distilled diction, intelligence of style, nobility of feelings: [Benjamin Bernheim]… is simply stunning.”
Le Monde
“sensitive, endlessly responsive piano-playing from Matheson, who finds a distinctively pianistic palette of colour…”
The Gramophone
Vocal Arts DC presents
Benjamin Bernheim, Tenor
Carrie-Ann Matheson, Piano
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
2:00 PM
Single tickets for the Benjamin Bernheim & Carrie-Ann Matheson recital will become available starting July 15!
*Selections TBA!
French tenor Benjamin Bernheim and pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson bring the elegance and poetry of French art song to Vocal Arts DC, in a program inspired by their acclaimed duo album, Douce France – Mélodies & Chansons. Featuring works by Gounod, Hahn, Duparc, and others, the recital showcases the beauty and depth of this cherished repertoire. With Bernheim’s luminous voice and Matheson’s expressive artistry, their recital promises an intimate journey through France’s rich musical heritage, blending romance, nostalgia, and refinement.
As one of today’s most sought-after tenors, Bernheim has captivated audiences worldwide, from the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics to the highly anticipated reopening of Notre Dame. His collaboration with Matheson offers a rare opportunity to experience his artistry in the intimate setting of a recital, where every phrase and nuance can be savored. Join us for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating the timeless charm of French song.
SOUND WORLD OF BENJAMIN & CARRIE-ANN
MEET THE ARTISTS
BENJAMIN BERNHEIM, TENOR
French tenor Benjamin Bernheim is a regular guest artist at the world’s leading opera houses, including the Opéra national de Paris, the Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Staatsoper Berlin, Teatro alla Scala, and the Royal Opera House in London where he performs leading tenor roles from the romantic repertoire, and specializes in French repertoire.
MORE ABOUT BENJAMIN!
Garnering high praise with both his performances and recordings, he has been hailed as “The most beautiful tenor voice since Luciano Pavarotti” by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, and “the new star tenor” by Diapason. After delivering a spine-tingling performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic closing ceremony, Mr. Bernheim released his first solo song album Douce France: Mélodies & Chansons. Inspired by his long study and experience of French song, Bernheim imaginatively couples the famous 19th-century melodies of Berlioz, Chausson and Duparc with the classic 20th-century chansons by Brel, Kosma and Trenet. The same year, he was named “Male Singer of the Year” by the International Opera Awards.
At the start of the season, Mr. Bernheim returns to the Metropolitan Opera as the titular role in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Benjamin then takes to the concert stage where he performs alongside pianists Carrie-Ann Matheson and Hélio Vida at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré, LA Opera, Wiener Konzerthaus, Rudolfinum and Palais Garnier. He begins the new year with additional recitals at the Prinzregententheater and Opéra de Monte-Carlo, before performing his lauded interpretation of the title role in Werther at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Mr. Bernheim then performs his highly acclaimed Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette at Wiener Staatsoper. His season concludes with a triumphant return to the Opéra national de Paris for Manon.
Previous highlights include the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann at the Staatsoper Hamburg, Faust (title role) at the Opéra national de Paris, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Théâtre des Champs Elysées, and at the Latvian National Opera, Rodolfo in La bohème at the Opéra national de Paris, Opernhaus Zürich, Royal Opera House (London), Staatsoper Berlin, and Wiener Staatsoper, Des Grieux in Manon at the Opéra national de Paris, Staatsoper Hamburg and Opéra national de Bordeaux, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at the Opernhaus Zürich, the Wiener Staatsoper and Salzburger Festspiele, Duca di Mantova in Rigoletto at the Bayerische Staatsoper, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Metropolitan Opera and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Lensky in Eugene Onegin at Deutsche Oper Berlin and Opernhaus Zürich, Alfredo in La traviata at the Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera House (London), Opernhaus Zürich, Semperoper Dresden, Deutsche Oper, Opéra national de Bordeaux and the Staatsoper Berlin, the title role in Werther at the Opéra national de Bordeaux, Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore at the Wiener Staatsoper, and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette at the Opernhaus Zürich, Opéra national de Paris, and with the Orchestre de chambre de Genève.
On the concert stage, he has performed recitals at the Salzburg Festival, Opéra national de Bordeaux, La Grange au Lac in Evian, Opernhaus Zürich, Verbier Festival, Opéra national du Rhin, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Philharmonie de Luxembourg, the Wiener Konzerthaus, Théâtre du Capitole, Opéra national de Bordeaux, Oper Frankfurt, Munich Opera Festival, and at the Gulbenkian Orchestra Main Hall. In addition to his recital repertoire, he has performed Verdi’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s Elias, and Puccini’s Messa di Gloria.
An exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, his debut album was released in 2019 to outstanding reviews. “You believe you are hearing some of the well-known arias for the first time,” raved the Süddeutsche Zeitung, while Le Monde effused “ a sumptuous voice, fiery sensitivity, and poetic musicality.” His second solo album, Boulevard des Italiens, released in 2022, was also very well received, Oper Magazin claimed: “one can almost speak of a sensational album…This is a cleverly put together… even charming album by a tenor who is unrivaled in his field”. BBC Music Magazine also rated the album five stars, praising: “Bernheim, who has a voice of immense clarity and lyrical attractiveness, sings Puccini like a dream… Taking a stroll with him down the Boulevard des Italiens is a real treat.” Benjamin can also be heard on the complete recording of Faust, in the title role, released in 2019 on the Palazzetto Bru Zane label.
Benjamin Bernheim studied with Gary Magby at the Lausanne Conservatoire, and was a young artist and troupe member at the Opernhaus Zürich.
An active presence on social media, he can be found on Instagram, X, Facebook and TikTok.
CARRIE-ANN MATHESON, PIANO
Carrie-Ann Matheson has a multi-faceted international career as pianist, conductor and educator, and since January 2021, is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Opera Center and the Merola Opera Program.
MORE ABOUT CARRIE-ANN!
A native of Canada, Ms.Matheson began her career at the Metropolitan Opera, where she was a tenured member of the music staff, serving as assistant conductor, prompter, pianist and vocal coach. The expansion of her European performing career began in 2014 when she was invited by Maestro Fabio Luisi to join the coaching and conducting staff at Opernhaus Zürich.
Especially in demand as a recital pianist, she has performed with many of the world’s most celebrated opera singers, including Rolando Villazón, Benjamin Bernheim, Jonas Kaufmann, Piotr Beczała, Diana Damrau, Thomas Hampson and Joyce DiDonato.
Ms. Matheson made her conducting debut at Opernhaus Zürich, where she has since conducted works such as La Finta Giardiniera, Don Pasquale and Iphigénie en Tauride. As assistant conductor, she has worked with luminaries including James Levine, Fabio Luisi, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, and Gianandrea Noseda, and has been engaged in that capacity by such renowned festivals as the Salzburger Festspiele and the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival.
Passionate about nurturing the next generation of opera singers and pianists, Ms. Matheson has worked with the world’s leading young artist programs, including the International Opera Studio (Opernhaus Zürich), Atkins Young Artist Program (The Mariinsky Theatre), Lindemann Young Artist Development Program (The Metropolitan Opera), Ryan Opera Center (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival and the International Vocal Arts Institute.
Ms. Matheson holds degrees from the University of Prince Edward Island (B.Mus.Ed), the Cleveland Institute of Music (M.Mus in Collaborative Piano), the Manhattan School of Music (Professional Studies Diploma in Vocal Accompanying) and is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.
These performances are external rentals presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center
Campus Rentals Office. Performances are not produced by the Kennedy Center.
Contact Us
Connect