Tenor Ben Heppner learning new style of singing in ‘Titanic’ musical

TORONTO – Canadian tenor Ben Heppner has earned bravos at opera houses around the world, won many prestigious awards and performed at the Olympic Games.

Yet as he takes on a role in a new production of the “Titanic” musical, he’s feeling like a rookie of sorts.

“Old dog, new trick,” the Murrayville, B.C., native said in an interview at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre, where the show begins performances on Wednesday.

Heppner, who is also a CBC-Radio host, signed on to the musical after announcing his retirement from singing opera a year ago.

He plays Isidor Straus, a prominent U.S. politician and businessman who co-owned Macy’s department store and was on the RMS Titanic with wife Ida.

It’s his first time in a musical and he said he took the part simply because producer David Mirvish offered it to him.

“Nobody had the courage” to offer him a role in a musical before, he said with a laugh.

As such, Heppner is learning from his cast members, whom he said have “opened their arms” and embraced him.

In the opera world, for instance, singers would never use a straight tone without vibrato, but in musical theatre it’s used throughout.

“These guys really sing,” he said. “They’re not operatic in that way, they make different choices than I would.

“But I’m coming in as a guest and I can’t have this kind of attitude where I think I’m bringing some kind of special knowledge. Not at all. They are the ones that need to lead me, so that’s where we’re going.”

Heppner described his role as more of a cameo, although he does a solo in a short duet near the end of the show.

“That’s the only place where I let myself come out with a different colour, kind of a warmer sound, a richer sound, whereas the other time I’m playing ensemble,” he said.

Heppner is on a typical eight shows a week schedule, which is more than he ever had to perform in the opera world.

“I had a friend who — when it came out that I was going to be doing this —he said, ‘Ben, you’ve never worked so hard in your life. Just wait.’ So I believe it,” he said.

“It’s a whole new thing here.”

The Tony Award-winning “Titanic” is written and composed by Maury Yeston, with a book by Peter Stone. Thom Southerland directs this new reimagining of the musical.

Heppner said the show focuses more on the characters and their relationships than on the actual sinking of the ship in April 1912.

Isidor and Ida Straus, for instance, gave up their seats in a lifeboat to their servants.

“Everybody in the audience knows we’re going down, but it’s what happens before we get to the ending that’s the interesting part,” said Heppner.

He said he would “love” to do more theatre when the “Titanic” finishes its run after June 21.

And not just musicals.

“I mentioned to David Mirvish back a year ago that I’d love to do some straight theatre, maybe a character actor in a piece. I don’t want to do a lead. Those are for people who have that kind of talent,” he said.

“But to maybe add a character or a cameo, I would love to do that.”