Omo Bello: Making history on world opera stage

Weekend Magazine: You just won the top three prizes at the Paris international opera competition. Could you describe those first few moments after you were announced winner?Omo Bello: When the first prize was called, it was the French opera prize. This was not very surprising, because I was the only candidate of the finalists who […]

Weekend Magazine: You just won the top three prizes at the Paris international opera competition. Could you describe those first few moments after you were announced winner?
Omo Bello: When the first prize was called, it was the French opera prize. This was not very surprising, because I was the only candidate of the finalists who lives in France. It seemed natural that the jury would accept my French singing as I speak the French language fluently.
The next prize to be called was the Public Prize. I was really over joyed, because the Public Prize is the one that shows that the public is for you. That is a prize that is cherished by all singers. I took a long bow in appreciation of the public and their votes.
When the first prize was called, my mouth dropped open. It must have been hanging open for a little while, before I took the first step to go and collect it. I was very emotional after that, thanking the jury, thanking the public. I am so thankful to God for this.
What was the journey like leading up to the competition?
On the 24th of January, 2014 was the competition and when I received the awards. Before then, I had applied for the Paris international opera competition last year. The first rounds of the competition were by submission of video recordings which were sent by post, so that a jury could select the finalists from the video recordings. The final of the singing competition took place at the Salle Gaveau in Paris. Each contestant sang two opera arias with the Pasdeloup Orchestra. It was very hectic, because I had been preparing several other opera productions and concerts. At a point, I must admit, I was seriously considering dropping out of the competition, but I prayed for strength and just went for it.
How many of you competed and what were the yardsticks the judges used to select the winner?
The competition organizers say that they received hundreds of applications from all over the world. The judges were made up of opera directors from opera houses all over the world: the opera houses in Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland, Moscow, Berlin, Montreal, Canada, the United Kingdom and even France. The judges in this type of competition tend to look for the voices that have an impeccable singing technique, good pronunciation of the text, beautiful singing voice and tone, expressive singing, singing in tune and   rhythm with the orchestra, good dressing, and stage charisma…
Did you feel threatened by other contenders?
The contestants were from all over the world: USA, Russia, Germany, Serbia, Korea, Belorussia, and even two candidates from South Africa. They are very good singers, and so I knew that it would be a tough competition. Honestly, I believed that I had my chances, but I certainly didn’t expect to take away the three most important prizes.
All the contestants were together during the rehearsals, and so we were able to listen to each other practice with the orchestra. I will not say I felt threatened, because I believe very strongly in the talents God has given me. However, I observed that some of the singers have very solid training and experience on the opera stage already. So I knew I was up against the real stuff.
This is most likely the first time an African/Nigerian is winning the prize. How does that make you feel?
Yes, this is definitely the first time an African/Nigerian is winning the first prize and this is the first time in the history of the competition that one singer is taking away all the three top prizes. I feel very grateful for all that has been given to me; extremely grateful and thankful.
How did it feel not winning the Victoires de la Musique award?
My operatic career has already taken off in a very wonderful way. I had a huge media exposure from the nominations for the French award. And on top of that, I won all the three top international awards at the Paris international opera competition just 10 days ago. This is the first time in the history of this competition that one singer will  sweep  the competition, that is, the first prize, the public prize and the French opera prize!!! These international awards are distinguishing accolades that go beyond the border of France. Many awards have come  and many more will come. I just need to keep singing well.
Does being one of the Victoires de la Musique finalists add any benefit to you?
It adds a huge media boost which is very advantageous. It has made a lot of Nigerians know who Omo Bello is, as well as here in France.
Is this the first time you entered the competition? Please explain what exactly the competition is about?
This is not my first competition. I had previously won the first prize at the Luciano Pavarotti international singing competition in 2010 as well as the first prize in the 2011 Anselmo Colzani international singing competition, both of them in Italy. Consequently, I was awarded the prestigious 2013 Acrad’Oro Prize (Golden Arc Prize) in Torino, Italy.
It is an international singing competition, which means that singers are chosen from all over the world, and are brought together to compete in front of an international panel of judges, so as to win top prizes of monetary value, as well as make an impression on this panel of judges, which consisted mainly of opera directors from major opera houses.
Opera is still very minutely appreciated in Nigeria; do you have any plan to enrich its appreciation back home?
I took part by signing in the OPERABUJA festival concerts from 2007 to 2011, and this is a project to help raise awareness of classical music, and to build a music conservatory in Nigeria, as well as a theatre for singing performances. The OPERABUJA project was birthed by the AMEMUSO, the Abuja Metropolitan Music Society, and it is an excellent project to make opera better known in Nigeria, which has my full support.
What next for you from here?
I am currently very busy with my operatic career. I did several concerts recently that were recorded for French TV stations, France 2 and France 3, with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and the French National Orchestra. I also sang in a concert with the Paris Chamber Orchestra at the Theatre des Champs Elysées here in Paris. I am presently preparing two opera productions. The first one is an opera called “La Traviata” by Verdi and the second one is called “L’Italiana in Algeri” by Rossini. They are both Italian operas. Apart from the opera productions, I will give concerts and recitals all over France, and I was selected to take part in a European tour for the Rising Stars program of the European Concert Halls Organization (ECHO).
Where did you get the most votes from?
For this competition, the first prize and the French opera prize were voted by the panel of judges who included opera directors from all over the world. The Public Prize was by votes from the French public who was present in the hall.
You sing in different languages. Which appeals to you the most?
I sing in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Czech. The Italian language is very comfortable to sing opera in. English is also good, because I don’t have to work that hard to perfect the subtleties of the language, being that it is my mother tongue.
Aside supporting OPERABUJA, do you plan to set up an institution in Nigeria to teach opera?
If the means are given to me to set up an institution in Nigeria, it would be my utmost pleasure!
I don’t know if you were discouraged about the idea of being an opera singer. If you were, what do you have to say to them now?
I think human beings are naturally afraid of the unknown. In my case, when you are born and bred in Lagos, Nigeria, following the path to become an opera singer is UNKNOWN!!! So I will simply encourage people to believe, work hard and pray hard.