In French-speaking Africa, there is an impressive number of talented classical musicians. Yet, there are no facilities available to give them the means to acquire a professional level.
Isabelle KABATU, soprano of international fame, therefore had the dream to create such facilities, a project she has baptized: OPERA TERRE D'ORAGE
OPERA TERRE D'ORAGE, based in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will be used to promote opera artists.
ABOUT US
The company is the result of a meeting between several key persons from the cultural and musical-distribution domains: José Van Dam, José Carreras, Ruggero Raimondi, opera singers, Filip de Boek, author and professor of Ethnology at the University of Leuven, Miguel Mesquita da Cunha, literary man, Patricia de Peuter Vaerman, art consultant, Tony de Vuyst, Director-General of PointCulture, Laurent Carlier, Thierry Migliorini, music teachers, Stefano Giuliani, stage director and visual artist, Maxime Selemani, founder of the VOX AWARDS Opera Competition, Kathryn Brahy, Director of the Wallonia Brussels Center in Kinshasa, Anne Dechamps, Head of Bilateral Cooperation Belgium Central Africa and Hervé Lisoir, King Baudouin Foundation
iIsabelle Kabatu in Aida at the Scala of Mailand
ISABELLE KABATU
soprano
The winner of numerous international competitions (Paris, Bilbao, Reine Elisabeth Bruxelles, Clermont-Ferrand, Verviers), Isabelle Kabatu, the Belgian soprano of African origins, won the First Prize of the prestigious Viotti competition, in Varallo, Italy in 1994.
In the same year, she made her career debut in the title role of « La Traviata » in Lisbon.
She quickly established herself on some of the world’s greatest stages: La Scala di Milano, Opéra Bastille Paris, Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona, Arena di Verona, Teatro Communale Bologna, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Vienna, Teatro Real Madrid and the Bunkamura Tokyo as well as the opera houses of Rome, Berlin, Naples, Geneva, Liège, Zurich, Hamburg, Moscow, Taipei, Houston, San Francisco, New York, to name but a few.
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WHAT ?
We will create a lyrical center that will, in the long-term, become a place for dialogue, meeting, training and creation for musicians and artists involved in the realization of operas. It will promote artists and creators from the African continent, but also from around the world, in all the musical, dramatic, choreographic and artistic aspects relating to the production of operas.
JP Mika.
MISSION
Not the solution but part of the solution
TRAINING
Regular courses for the improvement of classical music and vocal techniques.
Regular interpretation courses.
Awarding of scholarships for applicants wishing to continue their training in the Center.
A LYRICAL CENTER IN KINSHASA
We will create a lyrical center that will, in the long-term, become a place for dialogue, meeting, training and creation for musicians and artists involved in the realization of operas. It will promote artists and creators from the African continent, but also from around the world, in all the musical, dramatic, choreographic and artistic aspects relating to the production of operas.
Vox Awards Singing competition, Kinshasa, 2021
CONCERT & OPERA PRODUCTIONS
CALENDAR
9th December 2020
Théâtre Mercelis, Brussels
CONCERT : "UN OPÉRA À CONSTRUIRE"
Mozart, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Lehar
4th February 2021
Chapelle de Boondael, Brussels
OPERA WORKSHOP
Don Giovanni, Il Trovatore, Turandot
Un opéra à Kinshasa - YouTube
9th December 2021
SULTANI Hôtel, Kinshasa, DRC Die Die ZAUBERFLÖTE
Mozart
40 young African opera singers, musicians and designers
21st to 27th june 2022
Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, Kinshasa, DRC
MASTERCLASS
with Isabelle KABATU, Stefano GIULIANI
Video conferencies : Thierry MIGLIORINI, José VAN DAM
Opéra Terre d'Orage prépare JULES CESAR de G.F. Händel à Kinshasa RDC. - YouTube
2nd & 3rd December 2022
Centre Wallonie Bruxelles , Kinshasa, DRC
GIULIO CESARE
Haendel
80 young African opera singers, musicians and designers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6c_8ArnI70&t=171s
16th November 2023
Soul Power Festival, Pointe Noire, RC Brazzaville
MATOMBI PRODUCTIONS
GRANDES SOEURS AUX REGARDS PLEINS DE PELERINAGES
Music : Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, Joséphine Baker
with soloist, choir, musicians : 40 women artists on stage
Opéra à Pointe Noire (République du Congo)
17th, 18th, 19th November 2023
Soul Power Festival, Pointe Noire, RC Brazzaville
MATOMBI PRODUCTIONS
Masterclass : Music & Theater Ateliers
Ateliers Musique & Théâtre à Pointe Noire
26th June 2024
Look at Matonge Festival
Théâtre Mercelis, Ixelles
LA MORT de SOCRATE
Music : Erik Satie
Text : Platon
with opera soloist, piano, african traditional musicians and movie
La Mort de Socrate Erik Satie
2026/27
Kinshasa, DRC
IL BARBIERE DI SEVIGLIA
Rossini
85 young African opera singers, musicians, dancers,
actors and designers
PRODUCTIONS
Kinshasa, D.R.C.
Luxuria Musica Chamber Orchestra
Belcanto Choir
Sharing daily dinner
Music rehearsal
Magic Flute, 2021
Magic Flute, 2021
Stage rehearsal
Costume fitting
Maxime Selemani, Nicole Sulu, Isabelle Kabatu,
Cecilia Zoppelletto, Stefano Giuiliani
Mr & Mrs Johan Indekeu, Ambassador of Belgium,
Jean-Philippe Waterschoot, TEXAF, Belord Mulopo, actor
YOUR GIFT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
OPERA TERRE D’ORAGE
IBAN : BE43 0682 3374 8001 BIC : GKCCBEBB
or
KING BAUDOUIN FONDATION
IBAN : BE 10 0000 0000 0404 BIC : BPOTBEB1
Opéra Terre d'Orage (Fonds Opéra Terre d'Orage) | BonneCauses.be (bonnescauses.be)
Chéri Chérin
SPONSORS
CHANIC, Commune de Ixelles, Commune de Rixensart, Compagnie Sucrière, Fondation Roi Baudouin FRB, Groupe FORREST International. IMPERIAL DIAMOND, KITAMBO, PointCulture, PULLMANN Hotel, Kinshasa, SORIAC, STAGE.ONE Strategic Legacy Ventures, SULTANI Hotel, TEXAF, TEXAF Bilembo, SORIAC, STRATEGOS, Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie TRM, Vox Awards Singing Competition, Wallonie Bruxelles International WBI,Pianos WAUTERS,
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CONTACT : info@isabellekabatu.com