Editing Pierre Bernac (section)

{{short description|French opera singer}}

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{{Infobox person
| name = Pierre Bernac
| image = Pierre-Bernac-1968.jpg
| caption = Bernac in 1968
| birth_date = 12 January 1899
| birth_place = Paris, France
| death_date = 17 October 1979
| death_place = [[Villeneuve-lès-Avignon]], France
| occupation = Singer, teacher and writer
}}
'''Pierre Louis Bernac''' ([[né]] '''Bertin'''; 12 January 1899 – 17 October 1979) was a French singer, a [[Baritone#Bariton/Baryton-Martin|baryton-martin]], known as an interpreter of the French [[mélodie]]. He had a close artistic association with [[Francis Poulenc]], with whom he performed in France and abroad. Poulenc wrote 90 songs for him during their 25-year musical partnership.

Bernac was well known as a teacher; among the singers who studied with him were [[Elly Ameling]], [[Grace Bumbry]], [[Mattiwilda Dobbs]], [[Carol Neblett]], [[Jessye Norman]] and [[Gérard Souzay]]. He gave masterclasses in France, Britain and the US.

In retirement, Bernac wrote two highly regarded books about the interpretation of mélodies in general and Poulenc's in particular.