OMO BELLO

SOPRANO

After five years of studying Cell Biology and Genetics at the university in her native country, The French Nigerian soprano Omo Bello entirely devoted herself to music, studying at the Conservatoire de Paris – CNSMDP. She holds a diploma in singing performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, London (ABRSM) and has gained enormously from the musical and technical counsels of Jorge Chaminé, Teresa Berganza, Thomas Quasthoff and Grace Bumbry. In 2014, Omo Bello was nominated for the “Victoires de la musique classique” awards in the "Lyrical Revelation of the Year" category (the “French Grammy’s”), and she triumphed at the Paris International Opera Competition, winning the 1st prize, the French opera prize and the Public prize. In 2013, she was awarded with Italy’s prestigious international Arca d’Oro prize. In Italy, she also won the 1st Prize in the Luciano Pavarotti Giovani 2010 competition (thus lauded by the Italian press critic Gianni Gori as «a talent of Gold! »), and also won the 1st prize in the 2011 Anselmo Colzani international singing competition.

Since 2006, she had her first successes in Toulouse with the Mozart repertoire, taking on the role of Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), under the artistic direction of Gabriel Bacquier. She then sang the roles of Solis (Magdalena) by Villa-Lobos at the Theatre du Châtelet, La Jeune Femme d’Hara Kei (Soie) by Yves Prin, for its world premiere at the Théâtre du Rond Point, as well as Female Chorus (The Rape of Lucretia) by Britten with the CNSMDP, Silvia (L’Isola Disabitata) by Manuel Garcia at the Auditorium of the CNR of Nice and Eurydice (Orphée et Eurydice) by Gluck at the St Petersburg state theatre for opera and ballet.

Omo Bello made her debut in the role of Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro) at the 2012 Verbier Festival, and then went on tour with the Opera de Montpellier, performing the same role in 2012/13. She made her debut as Juliette (Roméo et Juliette) by Gounod on tour with Opera de Tours and Jeanne (La Vivandière) by Benjamin Godard at the Festival de Radio France et de Montpellier. In concert, she performs with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre national de France, the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, and the Orchestre de Paris. She sings regularly as a soloist in numerous concerts and recitals in France and abroad (Exsultate, Jubilate by Mozart, the Concerto for Soprano and Orchestra by Gliere, the Stabat Mater and the Salve Regina by Pergolesi, the 4th symphony by Mahler, Des Knaben Wunderhorn by Mahler at the Salle Pleyel, Le Nubi non Scoppiano per il Peso by Mauro Lanza, which had its world premier at the Theatre des Bouffes du Nord, followed by the Ultima Festival in Oslo, Petite messe solennelle by Rossini at the Opera de Montpellier, as well as Egmont by Beethoven at the Theatre des Champs-Elysées.

From 2007 to 2011, Omo Bello took part in the Operabuja festival in Nigeria. This involves an ambitious project with a vision to build a music conservatory in Nigeria and in doing so promote classical music and the lyrical art, a project she holds dear to her heart as an artiste. She also puts her talent to the service of medical research associations such as Hôpital 2000, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Association and the Children of Kedougou, giving charity concerts, or singing in old people’s homes.

Her debut album, Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn was released in 2013 and is distributed by Harmonia Mundi. In live concert, she recorded famous arias at the “Grand Christmas Concert”, with the Radio France philharmonic orchestra for a live TV broadcast on France 3 to 2 million viewers on 25th December 2013. In 2013/14 she made her debut as Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) by Mozart at the Opéra de Tours and Opéra de Reims, as well as Elvira (L’Italiana in Algeri) by Rossini at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées. More recently, she was Télaïre (Castor et Pollux) by Rameau at the Théâtre des Champs Elysées, as well as la Chauve-souris, la Chouette, une Pastourelle (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges) by Ravel, with Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting at the Philharmonie de Paris and the Royal Festival Hall, London. She also took on the role of Princess Elsbeth (Fantasio) by Offenbach at the Festival de Radio France et de Montpellier. In 2014/15, she went on a European recital tour, with an Italian program “Belcanto: yesterdays and nowadays”, during which she sang in the most prestigious concert halls in Europe: the Barbican Centre, London the Musikverein, Vienna, the Festspielhaus, Baden Baden, the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam etc…), as part of the “ECHO Rising Stars” project. In 2015/16, she sang The Creation by Haydn with the Palais Royal orchestra, and took part in the Sound Unbound Festival at the Barbican Centre, London, giving a recital of French melodies. In 2017, she will return to the Philharmonie de Paris for a recital with musicians of the Orchestre National d’Ile de France, and go on a tour with the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, singing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Omo Bello is a goodwill ambassador of Rotary International.