Founded in 1984, the Maîtrise of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège is today a group of nearly 40 young singers aged 7 to 16 years. Each season, these young artists perform in a variety of shows that require children’s voices, ranging from grand operatic choruses to French chanson, and including musical theater.

This children’s choir made its first stage appearance on April 20, 1984, in Puccini’s La Bohème. Under the successive musical leadership of Suzanne Blattel, Michèle Lemaître, Jean-Claude Van Rode, and currently Véronique Tollet, generations have followed one another and have distinguished themselves in a wide range of works. Singing in choir or as soloists and coached by professionals, the young talents accompany renowned artists in major productions, and in the original language of the performed works, whether in French, Italian, Russian, German, English, etc. They have thus been featured on stage notably in Tosca, Turandot, or Die Zauberflöte and Carmen. The Maîtrise also participates in concerts and external events, enriching its experience and extending its cultural reach.

In 2024, the Maîtrise of the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking four decades of invaluable contributions to opera art and the training of young talents. This season, it will perform on the stage of the Opera in Werther and The Enchanted Castle, as well as on external stages notably at the OPRL for The Nutcracker, at the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Charleroi for the Oratorio by Patrick Leterme, and at the Théâtre de Liège for various performances to be announced soon.

Classes

Classes are held in the Opera building and take place every Tuesday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Operas are sung in their language of origin. Children are therefore encouraged to discover other languages, such as Italian, German, English or even Russian.

Contact

Person in charge: Véronique Tollet E-mail:tollet@orw.be