“I don’t know what it is about opera singers,” says Whitehorse Concerts’ program coordinator, “but the Pavarottis and Heppners of the world touch people’s hearts and souls.”
Michele Emslie freely uses the name Pavarotti and Ben Heppner together, in the same sentence, when discussing the power of the voice.
And, considering that Heppner has been welcomed into most every prestigious opera house in the world, many would agree with her.
But even more amazing is that Heppner’s name and “Whitehorse” are in the same sentence.
The Grammy and Juno award-winning tenor, who has seven honorary doctorates, will be performing at the Yukon Arts Centre Tuesday, Sept. 23.
“His voice will literally fill the Arts Centre,” says Emslie. “and it will be unlike any vocalist we’ve heard here before.
“I think this might be one of those concerts that will be remembered for a long time. Just like people still talk about seeing and hearing the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in F.H. Collins many years ago.”
But this won’t be the first time Heppner has been in the Yukon.
Over the phone, you can tell Heppner is having fun when he explains this: “I worked on the railroad in Fort Nelson when I was a student and had crossed over to Muncho Lake.” It was from here that his work took him over the border.
He is surprised he hasn’t made it farther into the Yukon – or even to Yellowknife – and says he has learned to love the North.
Born in the Peace Country, his family moved to Dawson Creek when he was eight years old.
Since then, he studied at the University of British Columbia and in Toronto when, at 23, he won the Canadian Broadcasting Company Talent Festival.
Heppner has gone on to sing for royalty, has won prestigious awards such as the Birgit Nilsson Prize and has performed on all of the great stages.
As a dramatic tenor, he has taken on the most challenging roles, from Wagner’s Tristan and Lohengrin to Verdi’s Otellow and Berlioz’ Aeneas.
Heppner assures that his solo shows are not challenging to listen to. It is not opera, so there won’t be a storyline to follow and no costumes.
It will just be he and his accompanist on piano. John Hess is a friend of his who is a professor at the University of Western Ontario.
“Some stuff is a little more accessible,” he says. “It is not so highfalutin that people don’t get it.
“And we talk about stuff, so hopefully it will bring audiences along with us.”
Emslie says many of the people buying tickets are not really fans of opera, they just know his voice and they want to hear it live.
Heppner says opera is becoming more and more available as movie theatres will broadcast a performance in high definition for $15 or $20.
“It is bringing opera back to the people again.”
This tour, and two others like it, are taking him to smaller, far-flung towns that would not normally see such entertainment.
“I try to give back,” he says, adding that he will be in Whitehorse two days early in hopes of playing tourist.
Tickets for the show Tuesday, Sept. 23, are available at the Yukon Arts Centre Box Office and Arts Underground.
And, as Heppner says, “If they give up their bowling night, I hope to make it worth their while.”
