Editing Pierre Bernac (section)

===Early years===
Born Pierre Bertin in Paris on 12 January 1899, he started his working career in his father's brokerage house. He later changed his surname to Bernac to avoid confusion with the actor [[Pierre Bertin (actor)|Pierre Bertin]].<ref name=s216>Schmidt, p. 216</ref> He began taking singing lessons at the age of 18, and was first taught by the composer [[André Caplet]]. He was later coached by [[Yvonne Gouverné]], who accompanied him at his first recital, in Paris, in 1925.<ref name=grove>Blyth, Alan. [https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000002837 "Bernac &#91;Bertin&#93;, Pierre"], ''Grove Music Online'', Oxford University Press, 2001. Retrieved 17 May 2020 {{subscription required}}</ref> He studied German [[lieder]] with [[Reinhold von Warlich]] in [[Salzburg]],<ref>Schmidt, p. 207</ref> but it was as an interpreter of French [[mélodie]] that he became best known.<ref name=baker>Slonimsky ''et al'', pp. 318–319</ref>

Bernac's name came to be closely linked with that of the composer and pianist [[Francis Poulenc]]. They gave the first performance of Poulenc's ''[[Chansons gaillardes]]'' in 1926, but it was another eight years before they worked together again.<ref name=s216/> In 1933 Bernac made the first of only two excursions into opera, as Pelléas in ''[[Pelléas et Mélisande (opera)|Pélleas et Mélisande]]'' at the [[Théâtre des Champs-Elysées]]. His only other operatic appearance was in the same role in Geneva, conducted by [[Ernest Ansermet]] in 1936.<ref name=grove/>

In 1934 Bernac, visiting the [[Salzburg Festival]], was asked at short notice to give a [[Claude Debussy|Debussy]] recital. Having no accompanist and knowing that Poulenc was in Salzburg, Bernac sent him a three-line note: "I have been asked to sing some Debussy in three days' time. Would you agree to accompany me? Handsome fee, give me your reply quickly".<ref name=poc>O'Connor, Patrick. [https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/pierre-bernac "Pierre Bernac"], ''Gramophone'', June 1999. Retrieved 17 May 2020</ref> Poulenc agreed, and they found their musical rapport so great that they decided to form a musical partnership.<ref name=grove/>