Alsatian Noah Bulet, young lyrical singing talent, in front of the cameras this Thursday

It’s the story of a singular voice, “like one we encounter every 10 or 20 years”, according to Catherine Wohlhuter, singing teacher at the Laurent de Lavoisier high school in Mulhouse. A countertenor or even sopranist voice, which is characterized by its femininity and its ability to reach the high notes, a rarity when speaking of a man. This voice, however, is that of Noah Bulet.

Those who have already heard it have fallen under its spell. “It’s very inhabited, it evokes a kind of brilliance, of fullness,” expresses Catherine Wohlhuter. “It hits you in the gut,” summarizes Thierry Walter, director of the Ried Music school in Marckolsheim. The others will perhaps discover it this Thursday evening during the broadcast of the first semi-final of the program Prodiges, on France 2 (9:05 p.m.), a competition reserved for young talents in classical music (lyric singing, music and classical dance).

Noah Bulet, 16, is passionate about singing, more particularly lyrical singing, which he has been practicing for two years now. “I would like to make it my job,” confides the young man. This is why Noah is studying in first year “Sciences and techniques of theater, music and dance” at the Lavoisier high school in Mulhouse. Noah benefits from a flexible schedule which allows him to also take singing lessons at the Conservatory in Mulhouse. After his baccalaureate, he plans to enter the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris.

The young man has always been immersed in an environment tinged with music. “Even though I’m not a musician, we listened to a lot of it at home, in the car,” says Olivia Brunet, her mother. At the age of 6 or 7, Noah joined the Ried music school in Marckolsheim where he first learned the violin before switching to the piano under the direction of Michèle Lhoustau. “As I also teach singing in Marckolsheim, Noah came to sing with us. » A godsend for the boy. “Singing nursery rhymes or songs has always been part of my daily life,” says Noah. Which sometimes worked against him.

“In primary school, Noah was punished for humming in the middle of class, without realizing it,” his mother recounts with tenderness. “He really sings all the time,” confirms his older sister Anita, 19, who is studying musicology to become a music teacher. He even sings in his sleep! If it’s not painful? It all depends on what he sings (laughs). When it’s the same tune all the time, it’s boring. But he also happens, for fun, to adapt popular tunes into lyrical singing, notably by Édith Piaf. »

Noah really can’t explain this passion for lyrical singing. “In fact, music has always spoken to me more through singing than through an instrument,” Noah says simply. But I’m very bad at variety singing, I’m more comfortable in lyrical singing. »

A “normal” start

His vocal abilities, however, did not immediately jump to the ears of the people around him. “At the beginning, I would say that he sang like everyone else but he was always very receptive and took comments into account,” emphasizes Michèle Lhoustau, with whom he continues to take singing lessons at the Marckolsheim music school. .

With adolescence and the shedding that accompanies it in boys, Noah could have lost his singularity. “He changed, yes, but he wanted to keep his high notes,” notes Caroline Le Quéré, former music teacher at Marckolsheim middle school and now a teacher at the Lavoisier high school in Mulhouse, who knows Noah well having had him in course over the past six years.

“By working, he managed to preserve this childish, feminine head voice, with which he has a natural ease of singing. » A voice “that he fully embraces”, assures his mother, and which does not prevent him from going down to the bass when the need requires it.

With this voice, Noah performed in mid-March during the Springboard for Young Artists in Saint-Louis. Although he did not win, the young man had an encounter which will perhaps prove decisive for his future. “A lady in the audience told me about the show Prodiges, for which auditions were going to take place. To tell the truth, I didn’t know much about this show but I sent my application with a video and I was accepted. »

Talent…and work

Noah went to Paris in September with his mother and Michèle Lhoustau for the recording. “We worked on gestures, stage presence, eyes,” says the professor. The result of Noah’s performance, as well as the tune he chose, are well-kept secrets by the show’s production. Even some of his relatives don’t know. The young man is content to mention “a great experience even if I don’t necessarily see a career in television”.

Noah rather dreams of being an opera singer, “to combine singing and acting”. A high goal that his teachers, who rave about his qualities – “humble, hardworking, meticulous” – consider achievable… provided you persevere. “He has been touched by the finger of God but nothing is yet fixed in terms of the larynx, the hormones. His voice will continue to evolve,” points out Catherine Wohlhuter who, like Noah’s other teachers, recalls that “the voice changes throughout life.”

“Nature gave him something, which he will have to work hard to succeed,” summarizes Caroline Le Quéré. “From now on, he must not let himself get intoxicated by the glitter,” Michèle Lhoustau also warns, “but I saw him again this weekend, he is in good spirits. He’s made for that, it’s his DNA. I wish him nothing more than to be himself. »

Noah knows in any case that he can count on the support of his family. “I didn’t know at first that he had something so special but if his teachers, professionals, say so, I trust them,” smiles Olivia, Noah’s mother. We will encourage him whatever his choice, as long as he flourishes. »