As a youngster Bernheim learnt to play the violin and the piano, but watching his parents struggle to achieve success as opera performers made him feel conflicted about his obvious gifts as a singer, and he lacked confidence in his voice. "I didn't like singing, but singing seemed to like me," he told Opera Now. "It came to me without effort. I kept on studying and working at it out of some sort of gratitude, and in order to be independent as soon as possible."

After enrolling at the Lausanne Conservatoire, a professor recognised Bernheim's talent and instilled in him the confidence that would eventually propel him to the world's biggest stages such as the Opéra national de Paris, the Metropolitan Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Staatsoper Berlin, Teatro alla Scala and the Royal Opera House in London.

Bernheim built this successful career by choosing roles carefully and developing a strong relationship with his voice, learning to manage his nerves and accept his imperfections. He is now known the world over for his flawless legato, seamless high notes and exceptional diction in the French repertoire, which will all be on display when he appears in concert at the HKAF with the HKPhil conducted by Victor Jacob.