Informante.web.na: Jacques-Greg 'Belobo is performing at the National Theatre of Namibia' April 19

[Jacques-Greg Belobo, bass-baritone from Cameroon]

Today the Namibian tabloid Informante published a story on Jacques-Greg Belobo, a bass-baritone who was born in Cameroon and plans to perform in Namibia on Tuesday, April 19, 2011. The singer's bio can be found at the website of Esther Schollum Artist's Management.

Informante.web.na

Africa’s Pavarotti to grace Namibia

Written by Administrator

Thursday, 14 April 2011

“JACQUES-GREG Belobo, considered the most successful African classical music export, is based at the Semperoper in Dresden, Germany. The Cameroon-born baritone, accompanied by pianist Simon-Pierre Ndoyé, is stopping off in Namibia for a once-off concert of his show 'I Believe'. Belobo is performing at the National Theatre of Namibia compliments of the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) next week Tuesday, April 19 for N$50 in advance and N$60 at the door starting at 19h00.

“Belobo is a rare breed of Africa who has ventured into opera with some remarkable success. He has been based in Germany for the last six years. He says his opera exploits continue to surprise Europeans as they wonder how he cut it. Belobo says in the whole of Germany there are only two black people doing opera house, regarded as the most exclusive form of Caucasian music.

"'I Believe' tells the story of an African boy, growing up in a township in Yaoundé, Cameroon, where people are passionate about football and classical music is not exactly a priority. Despite his disenfranchised background he becomes a celebrated opera singer in Europe. Belobo presents a mixed repertoire of French melodies, Negro spirituals and modern classical opera arias, telling his own story as an inspiration to others; because he believes it is possible to make the seemingly impossible happen.

“Belobo first started his voice studies in his native town Yaoundé in Cameroon, before he continued his studies at the Conservatoire National de Musique of Nice where he won the gold medal for singing in 1998. He then continued his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse in Paris where he passed his diploma in 2001.” “In March-April 2010, he sang the role of Simon in Scott Joplin’s opera 'Treemonisha' in a production of the Paris Châtelet theatre.” [Scott Joplin (1868-1917) is profiled at AfriClassical.com]