Ben Heppner News

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO), led by Music Director Peter Oundjian, opens its 96th season on Tuesday, September 19 at Roy Thomson Hall. The performance, part of Canada Mosaic (a Canada 150 Signature Project) is anchored by the World Premiere of Life of Pi-a new orchestral suite by Canadian composer Mychael Danna.

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC opens its 20th anniversary season on Saturday, September 23 at 8pm, welcoming The Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Heppner to the Chan Shun Concert Hall.

The Dallas Opera is delighted to announce the winner of the 2017 "Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year" Award: luminous Italian-American soprano Marina Costa-Jackson.

The George London Foundation for Singers has been honoring, supporting, and presenting the finest young opera singers in the U.S. and Canada since 1971.

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) marks its 20th anniversary with a tremendous 2017/18 concert series, filled with unique collaborations, brand new productions, and much-adored favourites in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. Gospel vocalists from America's Deep South; virtuosic acrobatics direct from Down Under; Cuban musical trailblazers; South African jazz legends; and many more will take part in this milestone season, celebrating one of Vancouver's treasured venues.

After a lavishly praised star turn in Washington National Opera's revival of Dead Man Walking this winter, Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Susan Graham turns to a U.S. tour in April of her equally successful and wide-ranging recital program, “Frauenliebe und -leben: Variations,” inspired by and centered on Schumann's iconic song cycle, with longtime recital partner Malcolm Martineau. She also joins a cast of the world's greatest opera luminaries to celebrate the Metropolitan Opera House's 50 Years at Lincoln Center in an Anniversary Gala; performs selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn with the Met Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen in Carnegie Hall; and sings Berlioz's La mort de Cléopâtre, a staple of her signature French repertoire, with the San Antonio Symphony.

Beethoven's only opera, FIDELIO, was the last of three operas this season at the Met to take place in Seville, after CARMEN and BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA. Third time definitely wasn't the charm.

In each of its seasons "PREformances with Allison Charney" turns the spotlight on the virtuosity of the concert series' extraordinarily talented collaborative pianist, Craig Ketter. When he assumes center stage onMarch 13th Mr. Ketter will take the opportunity to play the infrequently performed music of 20th century composer, pianist and conductor Viktor Ullmann. Over the past decade pianist Craig Ketter has collaborated with colleagues in "The Ullmann Project," bringing the music Viktor Ullmann and a lost generation of musicians stifled by the Nazi regime to a broader audience. As with all PREformances' special guests, Mr. Ketter's performance anticipates a special, future engagement - in this case, a recording project of the complete piano sonatas of Viktor Ullmann.

On Today, February 23, 2017, Canada's next generation of opera stars takes over the mainstage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts for An Evening with the Ensemble Studio: Music of Handel and Mozart.

On Thursday, February 23, 2017, Canada's next generation of opera stars takes over the mainstage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts for An Evening with the Ensemble Studio: Music of Handel and Mozart.

Fresh from a triumphant turn as Didon in Chicago Lyric's production of Berlioz's Les Troyens, Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Susan Graham takes the concert stage this winter, performing selections from Canteloube's Chants d'Auvergne with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

Simone McIntosh of Vancouver took home First Prize (the Chair's Prize) at the Canadian Opera Company's annual Ensemble Studio Competition on November 3, 2016 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Simone McIntosh of Vancouver took home First Prize (the Chair's Prize) at the Canadian Opera Company's annual Ensemble Studio Competition on November 3, 2016 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

The Canadian Opera Companyhas selected seven finalists from across the country to showcase in this year's exhilarating vocal competition at its annual gala fundraiser,Centre Stage, on November 3, 2016. Selected from a pool of 119 aspiring Canadian opera singers, the final seven will take to the stage of Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to perform selected arias in the hopes of securing a cash prize, ranging in value from $1,500 - $5,000, and a highly coveted invitation to join Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals, the COC Ensemble Studio. 

When this year's aspiring opera stars take to the stage of Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to compete in the Ensemble Studio Competition at the Canadian Opera Company's annual Centre Stage gala, they'll do so with legendary Canadian tenor and CBC Radio personality Ben Heppner in attendance.

The Canadian Opera Companyhas selected seven finalists from across the country to showcase in this year's exhilarating vocal competition at its annual gala fundraiser,Centre Stage, on November 3, 2016. Selected from a pool of 119 aspiring Canadian opera singers, the final seven will take to the stage of Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to perform selected arias in the hopes of securing a cash prize, ranging in value from $1,500 - $5,000, and a highly coveted invitation to join Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals, the COC Ensemble Studio. 

The Canadian Opera Company has selected seven finalists from across the country to showcase in this year's exhilarating vocal competition at its annual gala fundraiser, Centre Stage, on November 3, 2016. Selected from a pool of 119 aspiring Canadian opera singers, the final seven will take to the stage of Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts to perform selected arias in the hopes of securing a cash prize, ranging in value from $1,500 – $5,000, and a highly coveted invitation to join Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals, the COC Ensemble Studio. 

This season marks the silver anniversary of Deborah Voigt's Metropolitan Opera debut, a milestone the Metropolitan Opera Guild looks forward to honoring at its annual luncheon this winter. Over the course of her long and distinguished career, however, the soprano has yet to help create a new opera. That changes this fall, when she stars in the Albany Symphony's orchestral premiere of Roscoe: An American Grand Opera by Evan Mack, who composed it expressly for her voice.

Following her summer role debut in Santa Fe as Clairon in Richard Strauss's Capriccio, Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Susan Graham - hailed by Gramophone as 'America's favorite mezzo' - launched the 2016-17 season with Renée Fleming and Michael Tilson Thomas performing Rossini songs in the San Francisco Symphony's opening night gala.

Following her summer role debut in Santa Fe as Clairon in Richard Strauss's Capriccio, Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Susan Graham - hailed by Gramophone as 'America's favorite mezzo' - launched the 2016-17 season with Renée Fleming and Michael Tilson Thomas performing Rossini songs in the San Francisco Symphony's opening night gala.