French. In June 2016, Heppner was made a laureate of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards, with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Classical Music. Heppner announced his retirement from singing in April 2014. Heppner felt unable to be a "part-time singer", feeling that "No matter how often you sing, if you're going to sing at a good level, a quality level, you've got to keep it up all the time. And I was finding that to be a little bit difficult. So that, plus the fact that I've been experiencing a little bit of unreliability in my voiceand that causes some anxietiesI decided it was time". Post-retirement, Heppner accepted a brief role in a musical production of Titanic at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in May 2015. Heppner became a broadcaster on Canadian radio, hosting Saturday Afternoon at the Opera and Backstage with Ben Heppner on CBC Radio. He retired from broadcasting in September 2021. Heppner plans to continue hosting master classes and coaching singers for roles, and appearing on voice competition juries. The Ben Heppner Vocal Music Academy, a public school in Scarborough, named after Heppner, opened in 2012. Discography Opera 1992: Weber: Oberon (Hüon von Bordeaux). Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, James Conlon. EMI. 1993: Puccini: Turandot (Calaf). Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Roberto Abbado. RCA. 1994: Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Walther von Stolzing). Bavarian State Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch. EMI. 1995: Massenet: Hérodiade (Jean). Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson. EMI. 1995: Wagner: Lohengrin (Lohengrin). Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis. RCA. 1996: Beethoven: Fidelio (Florestan). Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis. RCA. 1997: Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Walther von Stolzing). Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti. Decca. 1997: Wagner: The Flying Dutchman (Erik). Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, James Levine. Sony. 1997: Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten (the Emperor). Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli. Teldec. 1998: Wagner Lohengrin (Lohengrin) Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, James Levine 1998: Dvořák: Rusalka (Prince). Czech Philharmonic, Sir Charles Mackerras. Decca. 2001: Berlioz: Les Troyens (Énée). London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis. LSO Live. 2001: Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos (Tenor/Bacchus). Staatskapelle Dresden, Giuseppe Sinopoli. Deutsche Grammophon. Recital 1995: Ben Heppner Sings Richard Strauss. Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Davis (conductor). CBC. 1995: Great Tenor Arias. Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Roberto Abbado. RCA. 1998: German Romantic Opera. North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, Donald Runnicles. RCA. 1998: Dedication. Craig Rutenberg. RCA. 1999: My Secret Heart. London Philharmonic Orchestra, Jonathan Tunick.