In this season, our tenor from Lyon interpreted Ferrando (Così fan tutte) at the Opéra national de Lorraine, Gonzalve (L'heure espagnole) at the Barbican Centre together with the symphony orchestra of the BBC, Camille de Coutançon (Die lustige Witwe) at the Opéra d'Avignon, Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) at the Opéra national de Bordeaux and Antinoüs (Pénélope by Gabriel Fauré) at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Press review.
Ferrando (Così fan tutte) at the Opéra national de Lorraine:
"The victory is taken by the Ferrando of Julien Behr. In this Mozart repertoire, the young French tenor finds a role that is ideally adapted for his vocal possibilities. His first aria, "Un' aura amorosa", is a lesson of style and elegance." (ConcertoNet.com, 25.09.12)
"Julien Behr plays a very seductive Ferrando with a tender and smooth vocality." (Resmusica.com, 27.09.12)
"The vital Ferrando of Julien Behr" (Concertoclassic.com, 01.10.12)
"The tenor Julien Behr presents a very melodic Ferrando." (Forumopera.com, 04.10.12)
Gonzalve (L'heure espagnole) at the Barbican Centre:
"Julien Behr's sweet tenor hit all the right notes for the lover Gonzalve's passion-killing poetic effusions (so cunningly parodied by Ravel), and music-stand wrestling notwithstanding, Behr managed to be both ardent and hopeless" (Classicalsource.com, 12.10.12)
Camille de Coutançon (La veuve joyeuse) at the Opéra d'Avignon:
"The young French tenor Julien Behr portraits a dashing Camille de Coutançon and, with the sensuality of his invitation to the pavillon which he sings from the orchestra pit, he lets melt the heart of both the audience and of Nadia." (Classiqueinfo.com, 03.01.13)
Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) at the Opéra national de Bordeaux:
"A captivating performance of young Julien Behr who was already particularly acclaimed this season in Così fan tutte in Nancy and in Die lustige Witwe in Avignon. The tenor from Lyon sings a first class Tamino by giving the hero his magnificent musicality, his elegant phrasing and his superb timbre." (Concertonet, 07.06.13)
Antinoüs (Pénélope) at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées:
"Especially, unsurpassed among the excellent suitors, Julien Behr, great in his line, with a vocal charm and the right tad of venom." (André Tubeuf, blogs.qobuz.com, 21.06.13)
"With a certain implicitness, Julien Behr produces an exquisit sound that is at the same time luminous and serious, without bluff, like a promise for the future." (formalhaut.over-blog.org, 22.06.13).
"Infinitely sweet high notes". (Anaclase, 27.06.13)
"Julien Behr, presenting a beautiful and expressive tenor voice in the role as Antinoüs (Kulturkompasset, 29.06.13)
"Julien Behr's radiant Antinoüs" (musicologie.org, 22.06.13)
02.07.2013