CBC Music has announced an exciting new line-up of hosts, programming and podcasts coming to the airwaves this fall. Marion Newman, critically acclaimed Kwagiulth and Stó:lō First Nations mezzo-soprano, has been named the new host of Canada’s premiere opera broadcast, CBC’s Saturday Afternoon at the Opera. Starting Sept 11th, Newman is taking the reins from Canadian tenor Ben Heppner who has hosted the program since 2013.

“I’ve decided to move into a new phase of my life,” Heppner shared during his farewell show over Labour Day weekend. “Although I won’t be working anymore – there’s lots of things that I want to do… and I want to thank you for making Saturday Afternoon at the Opera a regular part of your week. Thank you too for the emails and letters you’ve written – many of you have become a treasured presence in my life. You will be missed.”

Further hosting additions include Montreal-born soprano Frédéricka Petit-Homme hosting Choral Concert, taking the reins from previous host Katherine Duncan who is moving into a new CBC Music producing role. Acclaimed orchestral conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser will continue to host Centre Stage since taking up the role earlier this summer.

In a press release, Senior Director of CBC Music Steve Jordan said, “We are quite excited for audiences to hear how Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, Marion Newman and Frédéricka Petit-Homme will bring their vast music knowledge and lived experiences to our classical, choral and opera listeners.”

Further hosting additions include a new one-hour show, Julie’s Opera Jewels, to be headed up by mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah that will take listeners through stories and music that tie into a weekly theme, including love, death, rivalries and more.

Another new podcast series will launch this month with Tom Power, The Q Interview, that provides an intimate look at big conversations with some of the most inspiring artists and creators of our time.

More information on upcoming CBC Music and CBC Radio One programming can be found here.

By Angie Bell for operacanada.ca.

Photo: Marion Newman.