The Secrest Artist Series continues its tradition of presenting the most prominent and promising artists in the performing arts world with a solo recital featuring tenor Ben Heppner at 8 p.m. Oct. 5 in Wait Chapel. Mr. Heppner, widely recognized as one of the world's premier dramatic tenors, will follow his performance Saturday with a master class for university voice students at 1 p.m. Oct. 6 in Brendle Recital Hall.

The Canadian vocalist was a late addition to this year's Secrest Artist Series, acquired after a previously scheduled performer was forced to cancel. Mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, who was originally slated for performance Oct. 5, is suffering from vocal stress and will be unable to sing for several weeks. Lillian Shelton, director of the Secrest Artists Series is largely responsible for quickly finding a replacement as widely renowned as Heppner.

Heppner's university recital comes in the midst of a lengthy tour that encompasses a good portion of the globe. Tour stops include the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City and the Deutsche Staatsoper in Berlin. While traveling, the tenor will perform with many of the world's premiere orchestras, including the Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Warsaw Philharmonic and London's Philharmonia Orchestra. Among the various performances scheduled for his appearances are Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde and Hector Berlioz's Les Troyens.

Heppner's career has been characterized by numerous accolades. A native of British Columbia and an alumnus of the University of British Columbia School of Music, Heppner first received universal recognition as the 1988 winner of the Metropolitan Opera auditions. Ever since, Heppner has become a hot ticket throughout the operatic world, performing for full audiences in the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera Covent Garden, Vienna State Opera and Opéra Nationale de Paris. While traveling, he has excelled in what have been widely proclaimed opera's most challenging roles like Wagner's Tristan and Verdi's Otello.

Though his dedication to his family has discouraged him from seeking the popularity of contemporaries, tenors such as Luciano Pavarotti, Heppner has managed to remain a force not only on stage but in the studio. Now an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, Heppner's most recent collaboration, a recording of Hector Berlioz's Les Troyens, took home a "Best Classical Album" award at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

Heppner's performance on Oct. 5 will not feature the vast orchestrations he is accustomed to through Wagner's gesamstkunstwerks, but will encompass a more personal selection of various late-18th and early-19th-century pieces. With the assistance of accompanist Craig Rutenberg, Heppner will perform selections by Robert Schumann, Henri Duparc and Sir Francesco Paulo Tosti.

For several select university voice students, the highlight of the weekend will be the master class conducted by Heppner at 1 p.m. Oct. 6 in Brendle. Each of the seven duos of vocalists and pianists will perform for Heppner, who will then offer constructive criticism.

One of these duos, junior vocalist Allison Jones and senior pianist Matthew Webb, will be performing Richard Strauss's "Zueignung (Dedication)." Though the two anticipated the event with a slight sense of nervousness, they are also approaching it as the opportunity of a lifetime.

Teresa Radomski, a professor of music, likens the experience to athletic training, "Having Ben Heppner come teach these students is like having Tiger Woods instruct a young group of golfers. He is simply the best at what he does," she said.

"In one sense, there is a tremendous amount of pressure to perform, but I think the students also recognize that this is a tremendous opportunity," Radomski said.

Radomski will present a lecture on dramatic tenors before the recital at 7:10 p.m. in Wait Chapel's Balcony Room. Heppner's performance at 8 p.m. Oct. 5 in Brendle is free for all university students, for adults and for senior citizens and non-university students. Student tickets are available at the information desk.