Parlando: The COC Blog

Ben Heppner will be singing a recital on the afternoon of Sept. 11 at the Four Seasons Centre, accompanied by John Hess. Here are five reasons why you should be excited to see it:

1. Ben Heppner is one of the world's most famous tenors.

He's been highly acclaimed both in mountain-peak roles like Tristan and in more intimate repertoire like the parlour songs of Tosti. He's a regular at all the most prestigious opera houses, and much-beloved by audiences all over the world. For connoisseurs of classical singing, a Ben Heppner recital is a treat.

2. Piano recitals at the Four Seasons Centre are very rare.

There has never before been a public concert in the R. Fraser Elliott Hall featuring a solo singer accompanied by piano. You'll be able to appreciate the pristine acoustics in a whole new way.

3. You can test-drive the new standing room areas.

This will be the first performance at the Four Seasons Centre for which $12 standing room tickets will be sold. Pick up a ticket the day of the performance, and you'll be part of the inaugural audience. If you're curious about standing room but not sure about standing for the length of an opera, this is the perfect opportunity to try it out. Also, if you're looking for affordable tickets but aren't interested in standing room, a small number of seats priced at $22 are still available.

4. John Hess will be accompanying.

As the co-artistic director of Queen of Puddings Music Theatre, John Hess has many fans of his own. His list of collaborators reads like a who's who of Canadian classical music, and he and Ben Heppner are longtime friends who have collaborated in recital many times.

5. It's in the afternoon.

I can't think of anything better than an afternoon of beautiful singing to follow a leisurely brunch or an hour spent window-shopping on Queen Street. After the performance, there will be plenty of time to stroll back down Queen again for dinner and drinks. A perfect Saturday afternoon at the opera house!

Photo: Sebastian Hänel/Deutsche Grammophon