The Lyrical Journey of Isabelle Kabatu: From Winning Queen Elisabeth Competition to Empowering Young Musicians

Isabelle Kabatu plunged into the pot when she was little: at 5, she decided to study music theory, piano, violin and even did classical ballet. Her project was already clear, she will make music her life. Later, Isabelle studied singing at the Royal Conservatories of Mons, Brussels and Ghent, then perfected her skills with Jessye Norman.

In May 1992, she was winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition, the only Belgian on this list. She remembers in particular one of the members of the jury: Johan Sutherlandwhose repertoire advice she followed “to the letter”.

Two years later, she won first prize at the Marcello Viotti International Singing Competition in Varollo, Italy and played Violetta in The Traviata from Verdi to Lisbon.

The significant roles will then follow one another: Bess in Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin, Madame Butterfly in the eponymous opera by Giacomo Puccini. She then sang Aïda in Rome in 2005, she was Chimène in And Cid by Jules Massenet in 2008 at the Zurich Opera and in 2009, she performed the role of Madame Lidoine in Dialogues des Carmélites by Francis Poulenc at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse. In September 2012, she played the role of Leonor in the world premiere of Stradella by César Franck at the Royal Opera of Wallonia in Liège.

The richness of her voice and the evolution of her personality now allow her to take on more dramatic like Norma, Abigaille of Nabucco, Lady Macbeth, Gioconda, Dido of the Trojans and Brünnhilde of the Wagnerian Tetralogy: “These are the most intense roles, which we approach as a gift”she delivers.

Concrete support for young musicians is a constant concern and requires a sometimes trying daily commitment. But, unexpectedly, the more I fight to carry my ideals, the more strength I have.

she explains about her lyrical workshop From Storms, aimed at propelling young musicians, singers, scenographers, decorators and visual artists in their careers. A parenthesis that allows young graduates to hone their skills by staging operas with orchestra, staging, sets and costumes.