During the Board Meeting on June 27, 2025, Génération Opéra elected Marc Clémeur as the new chairman of the association. Until recently, he has been active as a board member within the organization.
Marc Clémeur, a name that immediately resonates in the international opera world, has built an impressive career. He led Vlaamse Opera for many years and in 2009 took over as general director of the Opéra national du Rhin, where he remained at the helm until 2017. Under his leadership, an artistic policy was pursued that set high standards while remaining open to a broad audience. His commitment to young voices translated into the expansion of the Opera Studio, where young singers and répétiteurs had the opportunity to develop alongside established names.
With his election, Clémeur succeeds Jérôme Gay, who has been chairman since 2020. Gay remains closely involved in the organization and now takes on the role of General Delegate. This means that Génération Opéra not only gets a new chairman, but also a strengthened board structure to support the further development of the association.
Bridge between education and stage
Génération Opéra, in which the principal opera houses of France are represented and also partners from Switzerland and Belgium, aims to guide young lyrical artists towards a professional career. The association seeks to build a bridge between artistic education and the first steps on major stages. This happens through three central pillars:
- Competitions & auditions
- The promotion of Génération Opéra artists
- Co-producing tours
The organization, formerly known as the *Centre Français de Promotion Lyrique* (CFPL), has built a strong reputation with the national competition *Voix Nouvelles*. That competition launched the careers of names such as Natalie Dessay, Karine Deshayes and Stéphane Degout. The next edition is scheduled for 2027.
New generation of artists
In 2022, the *Promotion Génération Opéra* was furthermore established, open to artists under thirty years old. Admission is through audition, after which the selected singers receive intensive guidance over several years. Three cohorts have now graduated: some forty young artists who, thanks to this program, have been able to significantly increase their visibility and thus found their way to an early but promising career.
Important step forward
With the appointment of Marc Clémeur as chairman and the continued involvement of Jérôme Gay, Génération Opéra takes an important step forward. The association confirms its role as a crucial link in supporting young lyrical talent and cooperation between opera houses in France, Belgium and Switzerland.