Isabelle Valot

Isabelle is born in 2003 in Denver, Colorado, of an American mother and a French father, who bring her at the age of 12 to France, first on the Swiss border, then in Paris in 2019.

That’s when she starts taking lyrical voice lessons at the Atelier du Chant de Paris, tutored by Michel d’Ottaviani. He discovers the true depth of Isabelle’s vocal gift, and gives her the assurance to seriously consider a career singing opera.

Isabelle then makes rapid progress, and on Michel’s advice, tosses aside her fears, and auditions (remotely) for a spot on the prestigious French reality TV show Prodiges. After sending a few videos, including an Ave Maria sung (due to lockdown) in the church-like acoustics of an underground parking lot, Isabelle is surprised and delighted to get the news: She’s in!

Fast-forward to an unforgettable week on set, filled with goodwill and frienship. The fifteen “prodigies” instantly become best friends, overjoyed as they are to find themselves at last among peers who understand their unusual passion for classical music. At last they can express themselves and geek out on that side of them which ordinarily falls flat among their middle or high school friends. And day by day their weave a tapestry of deep friendship, which holds fast to this day.

During the semi-final show, Isabelle sings Ennio Morricone’s Your Love (from the film Once upon a Time in the West), and despite a lot of pre-show jitters, she feels her anxiety fall away, as she achieves her dream of singing to a real audience, with a real orchestra.

Fulfilled already, she was started to hear that she will be continuing into the finals. And surprised all the more by the torrent of compliments, encouraging words and support that flood the social networks. Thanks to the gracious members of the jury, but thanks also to the friends and kind strangers who open their arms and hearts to her, this american little girl, who came from America looking for a place in this new country, finally feels wholly and unreservedly adopted by France.

The rest of the story is yet to be told. Rendez-vous on Tuesday December 8 2020, on the France-2 TV station, at 9:10 pm Paris time (3:10pm EST, 1:10pm MST, noon PST) , for a few more magical moments.