World-renowned Canadian tenor Ben Heppner returns to his vocal stylings this summer as he takes to the stage in the Mirvish musical production of Titanic.
The 58-year-old has taken about a year off from the stage and is now ready to cannonball back onto the scene. Starring in Titanic will be Heppner’s first onstage performance since the spring of 2014.
According to Heppner, he had to take some time off due to “temporary unreliability” in his voice, but it seems he just can’t part ways with his passion for performing.
“I hate the term “retiring.” I prefer to think of it as leaving myself room for something new,” he says, of his alleged retirement. “I don’t think I could ever fully retire.”
Well, something new is certainly what Heppner is in the middle of. Having performed solely opera for the duration of his career, Heppner is playing the lead role of Isidor Strauss in Titanic.
“I just love the story. The love story between Isidor and Ida is just beautiful,” says Heppner.
“I’m very excited to be playing such a strong character.”
Before the famed blockbuster film Titanic hit the big screen in 1997, the story of the “unsinkable” RMS Titanic actually began on Broadway.
The current production has won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has now acquired the talented Ben Heppner to join this critically acclaimed cast.
According to Heppner, he had met David Mirvish last spring and jokingly mentioned performing a small role in one of his upcoming productions.
“I told David if he ever wanted me to be part of one of his shows or even make a cameo, I would be on board,” says Heppner.
“I didn’t really think he would take me seriously.”
Heppner began his study of music at the University of British Columbia. It was there that he first received national attention after winning the CBC Talent Festival in 1979.
Heppner’s musical gift as an opera singer allowed him to become one of the most prominent and respected tenors in Canadian history. Heppner is no stranger to the studio.
After exclusively signing a contract with Deutsche Grammophon (DG) in 2001, he was awarded a Juno Award for his first solo recording of an album, called Airs Francais.
Heppner’s career has made him an avid traveller as his performances often take him to some of the most prestigious venues for opera. The Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera Covent Garden and Opera National de Paris are all venues at which Heppner has had the opportunity to showcase his operatic talents.
“I just love going to places. But my heart lies with Paris,” says Heppner of his travels.
“It’s the one city I could probably convince my beloved wife to move to with me.”
Despite Heppner’s quickly filling plate, he is still determined to continue hosting both of his CBC Radio shows, Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and Backstage with Ben Heppner.
“I love doing the show. It’s not meant only for those who love opera,” says Heppner, explaining that there’s a bit of everything in the mix with his two radio programs.
Between songs, Heppner likes to educate the audience with random classical music facts about composers or tell stories of his many experiences.
When asked what Heppner hopes for his highly anticipated production of Titanic, he says, “I just want the boat to float!”
The Mirvish production of Titanic runs at the Princess of Wales Theatre until June 21.