Julien Behr
The French tenor Julien Behr sings the role as Pelléas, directed by Alan Lucien Øyen, when the opera Pelléas og Mélisande premieres here i Bergen autumn 2025.
Julien Behr first graduated from the University of Lyon III with a master's degree in business law, before he entered the Lyon Conservatoire in 2005. Five years later, he achieved his vocal studies with the First Prize. In 2009, he was awarded the “singers’ revelation of the year” by the association ADAMI and made his stage debut at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in the title role of Orpheus in the Underworld.
He was soon invited to many opera houses in France and abroad, with major roles from the Mozart repertoire: like Tamino in The Magic Flute, Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Ferrando in Così fan tutte – and Arbace in Idomeneo.
Julien Behr then explored other repertoires, such as bel canto with the roles of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor and Ernesto in Don Pasquale.
In 2018 he released his first solo CD, Confidence, with the Opéra national de Lyon’s Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Bleuse. In 2022, the milestone recording of Pelléas and Mélisande with the ensemble Les Siècles, conducted by François-Xavier Roth, was released by Harmonia Mundi, with Julien Behr in the role as Pelléas. The recording has since won several awards. Behr has also performed as Pelléas at Opera de Lille and Théâtre de Caen.
In 2021 he made his role debut as Alfredo in La traviata in Turin, and has since then sung this role also at other renowned opera houses like Grand Théâtre de Genève and Opera de Toulon. In spring 2024 he made his role debut as Romeo in Gounod's Romeo et Juliette at Theater an der Wien.
His season 2024/25 opened at Komische Oper in Berlin, starring in Damiano Michieletto's new production of Messiah (at Tempelhof Airport). In December he attended the two Inauguration Concerts of Notre Dame, in Bach's Magnificat among others. In January this year (2025) he made his role debut as Don José in Carmen at Opéra Royal de Versailles, before he in February also made his role debut as Jason in Cherubini's Médée at Opéra Comique. In June he returnes as Alfredo in La traviata at Grand Théâtre de Genève.
Published April 2025