(Credit: Michael Gregonowits)

On August 23, tenor Andrew Owens saved a performance of “La Bohème” at the Festspielhaus Baden Baden.

The company revealed that shortly after Act one of the opera began, tenor Benjamin Bernheim was unable to continue singing due to health reasons. Owens, who happened to be in the audience, spontaneously stepped in to sing the role of Rodolfo. Bernheim continued with the acting while Owens sung from the side of the stage.

The company said, “A huge thank you to everyone who made this evening unforgettable: to Andrew Owens for his spontaneous and incredible performance, to Carolina López Moreno and all the other soloists, to conductor Marco Armiliato, the Gstaad Festival Orchestra, and the Bern Theater Chorus.”

The company also wished Bernheim a quick recovery stating, “We wish Benjamin Bernheim a speedy recovery and hope to welcome him back soon as a soloist here at the Festspielhaus.”

Owens, who has performed at the Opernhaus Zürich, Seattle Opera, Opera San Antonio, North Carolina Opera, Manitoba Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Virginia Opera, Greensboro Opera and Florida Grand Opera, told OperaWire that he received and answered the phone call from the theater while he was sitting in the audience. He had only a few minutes to warm up before the show resumed.

Owens was also recently named a Vocal Artist Manager for IMG Artists.

Bernheim next performs a recital in Bremen.