Opéra Terre d'Orage (Fund)

What is it about?

The founders of the Fonds Opéra Terre d'Orage noted that there is no school or centre in French-speaking Africa dedicated to the learning and promotion of classical singing in all its forms, even though there is tremendous artistic potential, that the practice of this art is hardly recognised internationally, and that it is present on the ground. They therefore want to create the conditions for setting up a programme in Kinshasa combining both training and promotion of these artists. Indeed, although public actors and operators responsible for the promotion of classical culture are present in the DRC, there is no space federating opera culture in French-speaking Africa.

The Fund's mission is therefore to bring Congolese youth closer to lyrical and classical music and to make this music known to Congolese music lovers. Moreover, positioning the DRC as a leader in lyrical music in French-speaking Africa and giving it a place of choice on the international scene is an opportunity to be seized.

Objectives

The general objectives are as follows:

- To stimulate interest in classical music through knowledge and practice

- To promote classical music education for young people through the creation of a classical singing centre

- To promote exchanges between African and non-African classical musicians

- To promote classical music performances

- To achieve the creation of a professional lyrical pole of international level.

Achievements in 2021

On December 9 and 10 2021, Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute" was performed in a short version and adapted with passages in Lingala, in front of an audience of 200 guests in the large hall of the Hotel Sultani in Kinshasa. The artistic quality of the product aroused extraordinary enthusiasm. These opera performances in Kinshasa were the result of a singing masterclass organised as a first phase in the realisation of these ambitious goals.

The December 2021 performances can be summarised in a few figures:

- 60 artists and musicians on stage

- 200 guests for each evening

- 2 directors

- 2 evenings of opera music

- 60,000 budget

- 21 sponsors

Next steps

The future ambitions are a second performance of "The Magic Flute" in June-July 2022 followed by a decentralised tour of the opera in June 2022.

Then, depending on the means available, performances at the Théâtre de Verdure in Kinshasa, at the Centre Wallonie Bruxelles in Lubumbashi and at the Collège des Jésuites in Bukavu could take place from September 2022.

A local and Belgian teaching team would be set up to give courses via video-conferences.

And finally, after Mozart's 'Magic Flute', the team wants to tackle Handel's 'Julius Caesar'.