Queen Mathilde sings along in social singing workshop at La Monnaie
Queen Mathilde has on Monday morning taken part in a singing workshop at the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie in Brussels. The workshop is a weekly activity organised by the opera house within its social programme. People from vulnerable situations, or with physical or mental health problems, sing together with children in these workshops.
The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie has its social programme “A bridge between two worlds” already since 1999. Employees of the opera house set up singing workshops in prisons, care homes and community centres, but there also is a weekly intergenerational workshop around French chanson at La Monnaie itself. Children from Brussels schools participate in this workshop at the opera house.
During the Queen's visit, pupils from the Brussels primary school Tivoli sang together with people from vulnerable situations, with disabilities or mental health problems. Queen Mathilde sang along and interacted with the participants. Participant Johan De Vis, who has been taking part in the singing workshop every Monday for several years, was over the moon. “It was fantastic, it's the first time I saw her,” he said. “Really great that she sang along as well.”
"The queen sang and joined in the rhythm like everyone else, it was nice to see her completely immersed in our musical bath from the start"
Choir conductor Stéphane Larçon said that he appreciated the royal visit and that the workshop with the Queen went more or less as usual. “We were natural, with the spontaneity that is there every week,” he declared.
“During the conversation with the queen, I did notice that some had to search for their words, because they were a bit impressed,” Larçon added. “But the queen remained very relaxed and friendly. She sang and joined in the rhythm like everyone else. It was nice to see her completely immersed in our musical bath from the start. That also immediately put everyone at ease.”
Queen Mathilde of Belgium participates in a singing workshop at La Monnaie © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE / © BELGA VIDEO MAARTEN WEYNANTS
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