Ben Heppner has retired from his post at CBC Music. Heppner announced the news after spending eight years as the host of “Saturday Afternoon at the Opera” and “Backstage” for CBC. During his farewell show over Labor Day weekend, Heppner said, “I’ve decided to move into a new phase of my life. Although I won’t be working anymore – there’s {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its next two weeks of streams that will feature Teresa Stratas, Carol Vaness, Samuel Ramey, Ben Heppner, Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Lawrence Brownlee, and Sondra Radvanovsky. The first week’s theme will be “Happy Mother’s Day” while the second will shine a spotlight on “National Council Auditions Alumni.” All streams are available directly on the company’s official website. Week {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its next two weeks of streams, which include a plethora of famed opera stars, modern operas, and classic productions. The company will also showcase the streaming premiere of the 1984 telecast of Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra,” starring Sherrill Milnes, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, and Vasile Moldoveanu and the 2000 telecast of Beethoven’s “Fidelio,” with Karita Mattila, Ben Heppner, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 17th week of its nightly streams. This week’s streams include such opera stars as Anna Netrebko, Luciano Pavarotti, Ben Heppner, and Eva Marton. Monday, July 6 – Puccini’s La Bohème Starring Sonya Yoncheva, Susanna Phillips, Michael Fabiano, Lucas Meachem, Alexey Lavrov, Matthew Rose, and Paul Plishka, conducted by Marco Armiliato. From February 24, 2018. Tuesday, {…}
Ben Heppner was one of the great heldentenors of his time. Born on Jan. 14, 1956 in Canada, he studied at the University of British Colombia and was already known internationally by the time he was 23 when he won the top prize at the Canadian Broadcasting Company Radio Competition for young performers. He then headed to Toronto and studied {…}
The Mirjam Helin Competition has announced the jury for this year’s competition. This year, the jury will be led by an all-star line up of singers including Olaf Bär, Ben Heppner, Vesselina Kasarova, François Le Roux, Waltraud Meier, Deborah Polaski, and Kiri Te Kanawa. The competition’s Executive Director Marja-Leena Pétas-Arjava said in a press release, “Once again, the Mirjam Helin Competition {…}
This week Erato has two releases featuring legendary artists and one of today’s most sought-after singers. One releases features rarely performed works while the other features a new edition of a popular work. Here is a look: Orfeo ed Euridice Erato releases a new recording of Gluck’s 1174 classic opera with Philippe Jaroussky and Amanda Forsythe in the lead roles. Diego Fasolis {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced its 2018-19 season, which will feature six operas. Every opera is undeniably the sum of all its parts, but there is certainly a lot to be said about how one performer can become the big story for his or her upcoming showcase. Here is a look at the six exciting singers to keep an {…}
The Canadian Opera Company has announced its 2018-19 season filled with numerous classics and a world premiere. And there is also a major surprise. As in previous years, the season will include six productions divided into three pairs, for the fall, winter and spring seasons. The season will open on Sept. 30, 2018, with “Eugene Onegin” in Robert Carsen’s classic {…}
Ben Heppner is undeniably one of the major figures of the 20th century, the tenor dominating all around the world in many of the most challenging dramatic roles of the opera repertoire. Heppner, born on Jan. 14, 1956, the tenor was a major figure at the Metropolitan Opera for many years where he showcased his talent in such works as {…}
Ben Heppner was one of the most beloved dramatic tenors of his time and one that was admired for his technique. While he retired from the opera world and dedicated himself to radio, the tenor left so many memorable moments on stage. This season he celebrated his 25th anniversary at the Metropolitan Opera with a special gala alongside Deborah Voigt {…}