In opera as in life, Romeo and Juliet just got engaged

In opera as in life, Romeo and Juliet just got engaged

Opera

norman lebrecht

May 18, 2023

The French tenor Benjamin Bernheim, who has been singing Romeo in Gounod’s opera in Montreux, has announced his engagement to the substitute soprano Sandra Hamaoui, who is singing Juliet.

He writes: ‘I also want to say thank you to our cover, @sandrahamaoui : she was our Juliette in those first important weeks of the creative and building process, and her sensitive artistry continued to resonate throughout this production. I feel extra lucky that this artist also happens to be my “real-life Juliette”. It was so special to build this opera with her, especially when it came to creating the intimacy of these characters (if it looked realistic, it’s because, well, it was! 😂). Sometimes art really does imitate life! ❤️’

Comments

  • guest says:

    I thought he was married with a daughter?
    Clearly, no longer…

  • TruthHurts says:

    I guess he had to settle for the substitute ?

    • truth hurts indeed says:

      Too bad he didn’t sing it with the cover…. Fuchs was an out of tune wobbly wreck!!!!!!

  • Andrew Tunis says:

    Let’s hope it ends better than the original story.

  • Anon. says:

    French soprano Julie Fuchs sang Juliette to Bernheim’s Romeo. Sandra Hamoui was the cover and rehearsed the very start of the production only.

  • Harawi says:

    As someone who knows Ms. Hamaoui well, I sincerely wish Mr. Bernheim luck in dealing with her. Girl is certifiable. Bonne chance!

    • Anomalocaris says:

      What did she do exactly for you to say that? I’m curious.

    • AB says:

      I had the pleasure of working with her in a few productions (and then getting to know her outside of that, too) and she was a joy to work with… sad to see some jealous girls commenting on this that maybe would have wanted Bernheim for themselves!

  • Clarification says:

    Just to clarify: as you mentioned that he sang it in Montreux (and Geneva), that version was with Sandra Hamaoui and it was in January… He then sang it in Zurich (where she was the cover).

  • Lala says:

    Very happy for them, wish them the best. There is definitely some jealousy here…

  • Harpist says:

    Mazel tov

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