| |
One of the finest dramatic tenors of today, Canadian-born Ben Heppner has been a major star of the opera stage since his performance in Seattle Opera’s 1998 production of Tristan und Isolde. Hailed as a “Tristan for the new millennium,” Ben Heppner has confirmed his reputation as an outstanding interpreter of Wagner and a master of some of opera’s most challenging roles.
His many performances at the Metropolitan Opera include title roles in Otello; Lohengrin; Parsifal; Andrea Chénier and the roles of Aeneas in Les Troyens; Ghermann in The Queen of Spades and Florestan in Fidelio. He has appeared in these and in other roles at Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera, La Scala, Bavarian State Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 2010 he created the role of Captain Ahab in the Dallas Opera premiere of Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick.
For his appearance in Edmonton, Mr. Heppner presents a program  ranging from German lieder to operetta and musical theatre, with works by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Hugo Wolf, Franz Lehár, Noel Coward, and Ivor Novello. The well-known collaborative pianist John Hess accompanies him.
John Hess |
|
John Hess is the recognized authority on contemporary opera and song in Canada and is Co-Artistic Director of Toronto’s Queen of Puddings Music Theatre. He has been involved with the creation of many new productions for the Canadian Opera Company and has collaborated with virtually every contemporary opera company in Canada. At the Banff Centre for the Arts, he served as Associate Artistic Director of the 20th Century Opera and Song program.
John is equally in demand as a vocal coach and pianist. He works regularly with Ben Heppner in Canada along with many other singers and instrumentalists of note. John is heard regularly on CBC Radio and has recorded numerous CDs, including the complete vocal works of Canadian composer Harry Somers with singers Valdine Anderson, Jean Stilwell and Ben Heppner. |
As a member of the music faculty at the University of Western Ontario, John directs the original Master’s program in Collaborative Piano in Canada. He holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Michigan where he was a fellowship student with pianist Martin Katz.
Edmonton Chamber Music Society
Box 60354, U of A Postal Outlet
Edmonton, AB T6G 2S6
|
|
