Born into a family of singers, the baritone Lionel Lhote studied at the Academy of Music of La Bouverie-Frameries, where he attended his father’s classes. Afterwards, he continued his studies at the Conservatoire Royal in Mons, where he won the "Opera" and "Art Lyrique" first prizes. Finally, he graduated with honors at the Conservatoire Royal in Brussels and obtained the "Concert" first prize”.
He made his debut at the opera house in Liège with Les Contes d'Hoffmann and Don Carlos. Then, he performed, between Montréal and Ottawa, several important roles, such as Faust by Spohr, Enée in Dido and Æneas by Purcell, or Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia by Rossini.
The first most important roles of his career are Giorgio Germont from La Traviata by Verdi, performed on a French Tour in 2002, and Scarpia from Tosca by Puccini.
During his career he performed in many festivals and theaters in Europe, such as the theaters in Erfurt and Aix-la-Chapelle, the Opéra in Antwerp, the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, the Opéra in Avignon, the Festival Massenet in Saint-Étienne, and the Opéra de Wallonie.
He obtained acknowledgments and awards at national and international competitions, such as at the International Reine Elisabeth competition, in 2004 when he also won the "Prix du public".
His repertoire includes notably Mozart’s works, but also French and Italians operas (La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, Faust, Così fan tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Pasquale and Don Carlos).
Among his latest roles and performances there are Cecil in Maria Stuarda at the Opéra de Lyon and at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, conducted by Evelino Pido, Werther at La Monnaie in Brussels, and at the Opéra national de Lyon, Les Troyens at the Opéra National du Rhin, Monsieur Choufleuri, Don Quixote and Lucia di Lamermoor at La Monnaie in Brussels, Leporello in Don Giovanni at the Vlaamse Opera, Papageno in The Magic Flute at the Monte Carlo Opera, La Damnation de Faust with the Orchestre National de Lyon conducted by Krivine, Lodoïska and Cenerentola, once again at La Monnaie and then in Avignon.
