Ben Heppner - Great Tenor Arias

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Not since the days of Lauritz Melchior have we had a true heldentenor, a singer who can take on the big Wagnerian parts and the other roles that require a voice of real weight and heft. The Canadian tenor Ben Heppner is the closest we come these days, but he is both less and more than that--less because he has so far not attempted the bigger Wagnerian roles, more because (unlike most such tenors, and as demonstrated on this disc) he has successfully mastered the idiom of French and Italian operas. He has a big voice, flexible and even, capable of a good legato line when needed (e.g., in nicely sung performances of "Ah si, ben mio" from Verdi's Il Trovatore and "O Paradis" from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine). But while his brilliant sound and dramatic intensity make him often thrilling to hear, there is also a sense of effort and a lack of charm in his singing that can put a listener off, and RCA has done him no favors with their rather distant miking. Still, he is an exciting singer, and this is a recommended disc. --Alex Morin

Tracks:

La Boheme: Musetta! O gioia della mia dimora!....Testa adorata
La forza del destino: Oh! fede negar potessi... Quando le sere al placido
La forza del destino: La vita e inferno all'infelice... Oh, tu che in seno agl'angeli
Aida: Se quel guerrier io fossi!... Celeste Aida
Il Trovatore: Ah si, ben mio
Il Trovatore: Di quella pira
Manon Lescaut: Donna non vidi mai simili a questa!
Turandot: Nessun dorma
La Fanciulla del West: Ch'ella mi creda libero e lontano
Carmen: La fleur que tu m'avais jetee
L'Africaine: Pays merveilleux... O Paradis
Herodiade: Ne pouvant reprimer... Adieu donc, vains objets
Le Cid: Ah! tout est bien fini... O souverain, o juge, o pere
Andrea Chenier: Come un bel di di maggio
Andrea Chenier: Colpito qui m'avete ov'io geloso... Un di all'azzurro spazio

Amazon.com

Not since the days of Lauritz Melchior have we had a true heldentenor, a singer who can take on the big Wagnerian parts and the other roles that require a voice of real weight and heft. The Canadian tenor Ben Heppner is the closest we come these days, but he is both less and more than that--less because he has so far not attempted the bigger Wagnerian roles, more because (unlike most such tenors, and as demonstrated on this disc) he has successfully mastered the idiom of French and Italian operas. He has a big voice, flexible and even, capable of a good legato line when needed (e.g., in nicely sung performances of "Ah si, ben mio" from Verdi's Il Trovatore and "O Paradis" from Meyerbeer's L'Africaine). But while his brilliant sound and dramatic intensity make him often thrilling to hear, there is also a sense of effort and a lack of charm in his singing that can put a listener off, and RCA has done him no favors with their rather distant miking. Still, he is an exciting singer, and this is a recommended disc. --Alex Morin

Customer Reviews:

Heppner -"Beauty and the Beef".......2006-11-02

Comparing tenors is always risky-no matter what, someone's feelings get hurt.Ben Heppner is, as others have suggested, the leading heldontenor of the day.What seems to separate him from others, with whom he has been compared-Corelli,del Monaco,Melchior, is the obvious fact that Heppner has a stunning lyrical quality to his sound.Many of the Mellochi, dropped larynx technique singers, are simply incapable of producing a "sweet" sound.Size isn't everything.Volume and a sweet sound are qualities that when combined add so much more musical, and hence listening value.Heppner can sing everything, because his lyrical sound is listenable.When will they get it right...a triple forte presentation all the time isn't all there is to singing opera. With Heppner we have a sense of line, modulation and all the musical aspects that make performances enjoyable. As well, Heppner is a fine musician. I dislike over done portamento. Heppner sings and delivers as the composer intended-at least as far as one can tell.I loved Corelli's sound but his magnificence was diminished by a chronic failure to follow the score.And I don't think Del Monaco ever sang anything pianissimo.I am sorry fans, but that isn't good singing.With Heppner we have an artist who delivers music with great musicality. What a concept!This CD offers example after example of how it can and should be done.
This CD has all the goods to illustrate the point.Big sound plus sweet sound equals success.Great tenor arias from a great tenor!

He is DEFINATELY NOT Del Monaco or Corelli.......2005-04-27

For all of the people out there reading the reviews on here make sure you take them with a grain of salt. Most peoples ear for voice is terrible. If you had heard Del Monaco or Corelli live you would know what complete and utter bullcrap these reviews are. Although Ben Heppner's voice may be considered large by todays standards it is small compared to Corelli and ESPECIALLY Del Monaco. In this age of state of the art recording equipment everyone sounds like they have a big voice. Mr. Heppner also lacks the core and squillo that Del Monaco and Corelli (and countless others) had. The ring in their voices is where all of the harmonics happen. It is these kinds of comparisons that have allowed the opera to decline to the level that it is today. Intstead of saying, "Why are'nt people singing like DelMonaco and Tebaldi and Nilsson anymore?" we have people trying to bring lesser voices up to their level. Very sad.

Ben Heppner is One of the Best Tenors of All time!.......2000-01-28

The only reason that Ben Heppner would not be able to fill the shoes of Corelli, or del Monaco is because Ben wears a bigger size. Heppner not only has the large full ranged voice, mentioned by the previous reviewer, but he also has impecable artistry. Unlike del Monaco he knows what dynamics are. Unlike Corelli he can get to his top register without scooping, and unlike Corelli he knows how to count, and doesn't write the music as he sings it. Don't get me wrong Corelli, and Del Monaco are two of my favorite tenors, but they are by no means better than Heppner

Finally, a real dramatic tenor voice........1999-09-29

Since the days of Del Monaco and Corelli, there have not been many dramatic tenors worthy of note. The few dramatic tenors I have seen live in recent years, namely the Russians, Atlantov and Bogachev, and the Americans, Margison and O'Neill, have indeed had big voices but not particularly attractive ones. They have also lacked the musicianship and style of singers like Del Monaco and Corelli, not to mention their top registers! Now comes a tenor like Heppner who, although he cannot fill the shoes of Corelli and Del Monaco, as indeed who can, is nevertheless worthy to walk in their footsteps. Heppner has an immense, bronze colored tenor voice. It is not darkly shaded like Corelli's or perhaps as stentorian as Del Monaco's. But Heppner displays a rich, even timbre throughout his singing, from bottom to top. In many of the arias on this CD, Heppner effectively employs dynamic shading for someone with as big a voice as his. But, above all, Heppner offers us a clinic in fine, subtle legato phrasing. His musicianship is impeccable. Heppner has enough voice and breadth to be patient with these arias, shaping the phrases in long, flowing lines without tiring or compromising his tone. Although sometimes Heppner thins out at the top, I suspect that's more of a problem with the engineering than the voice. One small criticism to be made, however, is that perhaps Heppner's performance is too controlled, lacking the spontaneity and thrill characteristic of performances by greats such as Corelli and Del Monaco. Nevertheless, we should consider outselves lucky to have this wonderful heroic tenor on the stage today.

Heppner just may be the perfect tenor........1999-09-28

How on earth did I miss this one?! Recorded in 1995, I just stumbled across it the other day. What a voice! Here is that true rarity: a genuine Heldentenor with a sweet, flexible, well-placed voice; and he is definitely NOT a tenor-baritone. I've heard "Nessum Dorma" a thousand times, sung by a hundred tenors, but never like like this--your hair will stand on end! Who said a so-called dramatic tenor can't hit a decent high-C? Heppner not only hits it--dead center--he demolishes it. And the "Un di all'azzurro spazio" is a "textbok" in vocal agility. I know of no other tenor today (or yesterday) who can so perfectly handle the two distinct "styles" of the aria, at times lyrical, and others dramatic. This aria was meant to be difficult and, although many can sing it with fair success, only Heppner grabs it, shakes it for all it's worth, and conquers it. How nice to have a North American (albeit from British Columbia) do us so proud,

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Lightworker

Pamela Pecha, oboe, oboe d'amore

Musiques de l'Antiquité Grecque

Listen

Palo Palo 1 [Import]

See You Later [Import]

O Som Do Barzinho V.8 [Import]

Short Man's Room

One Mo' Time [Import]

Offenbach: World of Offenbach [Import]

Old Country [Import]

Mi Historia

Navidad En Las Americas

Rhythm: A Real Music Sampler

Finally