Belgium, Liège : Opéra Royal de Wallonie

Nous chantons tous les mêmes gestes;
Nous parlons tous la même musique;
Nous dansons tous les mêmes mots;
Alors franchissons le pont
Construisons ensemble un HipHopéra

On 8 May, on the occasion of the European Opera Days, Opéra Royal de Wallonie will give the audience the opportunity to cross the bridge between Hip-Hop culture and the opera world. We challenge curious, sceptical, novice or informed people on both sides of the bridge, who will join us to produce a great interactive show: The BattleDonizetti!
Don’t worry, the battle which will take place in the arena of the Palais Opéra de Liège will not oppose the two genres, on the contrary! Each tribe will be made up of experienced artists and amateurs coming from the two cultures who have already crossed the bridge and built their HipHopéra.

Programme of the artistic battles:

First part : the workshops
Working sessions on the opera Rita by Donizetti (programmed in May in the Palais Opéra), to prepare the audience for the battle. 
Human BeatBox: representing several types of musical instruments using only one’s voice, throat and nose
Slam: on the basis of an extract of the libretto of Rita, rewriting the text and reading it, saying it or chanting it in the style of urban poets
Opera singing: in a choir, learning how to sing an extract of the score
B-Boying: Breakdance Workshop + Bonus Moonwalk – Smurf – Robot Dance
Graff: creating a graffiti fresco which will be used as a setting, and discovering at the same time the stylisation and geometrisation peculiar to this artistic practice

Second part : the performance
Gathered on the stage and in the theatre of the Palais Opéra, under the leadership of a Maestro-MC,  the tribes will fight an artistic Battle faithful to urban tradition.  The artists of the day will be able to immerse in two musical cultures, respecting to their common value: surpassing themselves!

Practical information:
Palais Opéra de Liège
Site Bavière, Boulevard de la Constitution - 4000 Liège
+32 (0)4 221 47 22
location@orw.be

More information on www.orw.be