''Saturday Afternoon at the Opera'' is a Canadian radio programme, which airs Saturday afternoons on

CBC Music CBC Music (formerly known as CBC FM, CBC Stereo and CBC Radio 2) is a Canadian FM radio network operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It used to concentrate on classical and jazz. In 2007 and 2008, the network transitioned towards a ...

. The programme airs live and pre-recorded

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

concert performances, as well as interviews with opera artists and reviews of opera CDs. ''SATO'' includes the

Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts The Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts are a regular series of weekly broadcasts on network radio of full-length opera performances. They are transmitted live from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The Metropolitan Opera In ...

during its season, from late November or early December to late April or early May each year. As contractually required, these broadcasts are aired in their entirety, including sponsorships, representing one of only two forms of

advertising Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to put a product or service in the spotlight in hopes of drawing it attention from consumers. It is typically used to promote a ...

currently permitted on CBC Radio. This is despite the fact that the current sponsor of the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts,

Toll Brothers Toll Brothers is a company which designs, builds, markets, sells, and arranges financing for residential and commercial properties in the United States. In 2020, the company was the fifth largest home builder in the United States, based on home ...

, does not have any Canadian operations. From 1985 until 2007, whenever ''SATO'' was not retransmitting a Metropolitan Opera radio broadcast, most programs (intermissions permitting) included an opera quiz hosted by Stuart Hamilton, in much the same format as the quiz that is part of the Met broadcasts. While ''Saturday Afternoon at the Opera'' originated in 1982,

CBC Radio CBC Radio is the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which (regardless of language) are outlined below ...

has been carrying the

since the

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (french: Société Radio-Canada), branded as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian public broadcaster for both radio and television. It is a federal Crown corporation that receives funding from the government. ...

's creation in 1936, as did its predecessor, the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission, which began airing the program in December 1933. The Metropolitan Opera broadcasts were simulcast on both the main CBC Radio network (known today as CBC Radio One) and what was originally the FM network (known for many years as CBC Stereo, now CBC Music) from the beginning of the FM network in 1946 until 1985."Saturday fun on CBC Radio". '' Brandon Sun'', January 16, 1988. The Metropolitan Opera broadcasts are also aired on the CBC's French network on the programme ''Place à l'Opéra''. The program was hosted for two decades by

Howard Dyck Howard Dyck, CM (born November 17, 1942) is a Canadian conductor, public speaker, and radio broadcaster born in Winkler, Manitoba, now living Waterloo, Ontario. He is most well known as the longtime host of CBC Radio programmes ''Choral Concert' ...

from 1987-2007. Bill Richardson hosted the programme from 2007 until 2013.

Ben Heppner Thomas Bernard Heppner (born January 14, 1956) is a Canadian tenor and broadcaster, now retired from singing, who specialized in opera and other classical works for voice. Early life and career Heppner, of Mennonite descent, was born in Mur ...

subsequently hosted the programme from 2013 to 2021. Since 2021, the programme host is First Nations mezzo-soprano Marion Newman. CBC Radio One's

pop culture Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * Pop (Gas al ...

newsmagazine ''

Definitely Not the Opera ''Definitely Not the Opera'' (or simply ''DNTO'') was a magazine-style radio program focusing on aspects of pop culture and storytelling, that aired on CBC Radio One on Saturday afternoons from 1994 until 2016. The show's running time varied ove ...

'', which aired from 1994 until 2016, took its name from the fact that it aired at the same time as ''SATO''.

References

External links

''Saturday Afternoon at the Opera'' CBC Radio page

Saturday Afternoon at the Opera - Canadian Communication Foundation
CBC Music programs Canadian classical music radio programs {{Canada-radio-show-stub