Ben Heppner, renowned heldentenor, is acclaimed for the beauty of his voice, incisive musicianship, and his generosity with his audience. His performances on the opera stage, in concert with the world’s leading orchestras, in the most prestigious recital venues, and in recordings have set new standards in his demanding repertoire.

Heppner studied music at the University of British Columbia. He first gained national attention in 1979 as the winner of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Talent Festival. In December 1998, CBC Television’s Something Special featured BenHeppner in an hour-long portrait of the artist. He is a 1988 winner of the Metropolitan Opera auditions and received Grammy® Awards in 1998 for his recording of Die Meistersinger on London/Decca records and in 2001 for his recording of Les Troyens with the London Symphony Orchestra on LSOLive. Ben Heppner is a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Heppner now brings his voice to the airwaves of CBC Radio as the new host of Saturday Afternoon at the Opera where bring listeners the finest opera productions and recordings from around the world.

Ben Heppner lives in Toronto with his wife and their cat, Michelin (named after the tire brand). He has three grown children and is anticipating the birthday of his first grandson. A dedicated hat wearer, Heppner loves drinking coffee on the deck and touring the countryside on his motorcycle.