Details are slowly emerging about a tragic helicopter crash that occurred several hundred metres off the coast of Mandelieu on 11th January and left two dead.
The pilot, 35-year-old Loreline Germain as identified in the local press, and her student, a 27-year-old currently known only as Vincent, are understood to have taken off from Cannes-Mandelieu Airport in a Robinson R22 a little before 4pm.
Around a minute later, according to the preliminary investigations by the Bureau d’Études et Analyses pour la Sécurité de l’Aviation Civile (BEA), the pilot-instructor warned of engine failure over the radio. Within moments, the helicopter had crashed into the sea.
Following numerous witness accounts, dozens of emergency service personnel headed out into the bay in search of the helicopter and its passengers, but given the fading light, the task of locating the craft proved a complex task. The helicopter and the two people onboard weren’t found until after 6pm.
At the time, Commander Xavier Wiik, who led the search and rescue operation, was quoted in the Nice Matin as saying, “There is no debris on the surface, only oil slicks.”
The same news outlet has since reported that the helicopter was found at a depth of 30 metres and has been recovered.
The BEA has classed the incident as an accident, noting a “loss of control in flight” and “failure or malfunction of a circuit or component” linked to the powertrain of the aircraft.
Parallel investigations into the accident, one by the Gendarmerie, assisted by the Section de Recherches des Transports Aériens, and another by the BEA, continue.
AS Monaco is officially for sale, with the family of majority shareholder Dmitry Rybolovlev confirming that the Russian billionaire is looking at “strategic alternatives” for the club.
Following reports by French newspaper Les Echoes on Sunday that Dmitry Rybolovlev is open to selling the club, a statement was released on Monday confirming that the Monaco-resident – one of the few Russian tycoons who is not under sanctions as he left the country decades ago – has hired an advisory firm to study the possibility of a sale of his controlling stake in AS Monaco football club amid interest from potential buyers.
The statement, obtained by Monaco Life from colleagues at Get French Football News, says “The majority shareholder of AS Monaco has decided to commence a process to explore strategic alternatives for its stake in the Club after receiving unsolicited inbound interest. The majority shareholder has retained The Raine Group to serve as its exclusive financial advisor on this matter. Raine has significant experience working with the world’s biggest football clubs on a range of assignments.”
The statement continues: “There can be no assurances that the strategic review will result in any transaction involving the Club and we do not intend to make any further announcements regarding the strategic review at this time.”
Rybolovlev acquired a 66% share in second-tier AS Monaco in 2011 and pledged to invest at least €100 million. Under his ownership, the Monegasque club rose to win a Ligue 1 title in 2016/17 and reach the UEFA Champions League semi-final that same period.
He also financed the club’s new training centre in La Turbie to the tune of €55 million.
Rybolovlev reportedly received at least two takeover proposals last year, possibly American.
The Roca Team closed last week with back-to-back victories in the Salle Gaston Médecin that helped the side regain some traction in the EuroLeague and cement its status at the top of the Betclic Elite standings.
Just days after an away win against Paris, AS Monaco Basket were back on their home court in the Salle Gaston Médecin on 19th January for a battle against Real Madrid, a side that had, until that point, only lost two EuroLeague games in the entire season.
The hype before the game was worth it and fans on both sides were gripped from the very start, but it was the Roca Team who were clearly the best team on the court. They served up an “XXL performance” that ended with the scorecard reading 98-74.
“It’s one of our best matches we’ve had this season,” said AS Monaco manager Sasa Obradovic post-game. “Everyone as a team participated in this success. As soon as I called players to the bench, they were ready. I am really happy with this tremendous collective victory. The support of the supporters counted and it did us good. Mike James is having the best season of his life. He is currently the best in the EuroLeague at his position.”
The praise for James was well-deserved; the American point guard contributed 15 points, six rebounds and 12 assists alone.
REIGNING SUPREME IN THE BETCLIC ELITE
Two days later and on the same home court, AS Monaco returned with the same power and energy to take a second win (78-74), this time against Le Mans.
The victory was part luck and the home side did come close to defeat on a number of occasions.
In the end, it came down to the very last minute and the recently reinstated Élie Okobo, who helped Monaco on their way to the victory as the fans counted down.
“There were some wasted shots,” said Okobo post-game, “but we knew how to stay focused when we needed to. It wasn’t easy. Defensively we did a good job in the last quarter, Terry [Tarpey] was able to finish the job with this last interception. This balance between the Betclic Elite and EuroLeague matches is never easy, but we must remember the victory, that is the most important thing.”
The team now have almost a full week to recover ahead of games against Anadolu Efes S.K. in Instabul on 26th January and then French side Élan Chalon at home on 28th January.
Throughout this week, fans and aficionados of the circus and circus arts will be able to explore a unique collection of paintings, sculptures and objets d’art belonging to Patrick and Krinou Hourdequin ahead of a grand auction on Thursday.
Amassed during the lifetimes of Patrick and Krinou Hourdequin, who shared an “unfailing commitment to the circus arts”, this extraordinary collection of items is a compendium of art works in all shapes and forms that is united by their treasured theme of the circus.
From souvenirs and trinkets to musical instruments from circus days gone by, the Hourdequin Collection is the fruit of an enduring love for and appreciation of the circus, which allowed the couple to develop close ties to the Principality.
It thus seems only right that the auction be held in Monaco and it is set to take place on Thursday 25th January at the Hôtel des Ventes de Monte-Carlo on the Quai Antoine 1er at 2.30pm.
There will be public showings of the 300 lots from Monday 22nd to Wednesday 24th January from 10am to 1pm and again from 2pm to 6pm.
To view the collection catalogue online, click here.
René Blino, a man with an extensive background in France’s luxury hotel sector, is set to make his mark on the Monaco scene following his appointment to the role of Director General at Monte-Carlo Beach.
After more than 20 years at the helm of Monte-Carlo Beach, Danièle Garcelon has retired from the hotel industry, leaving the top spot open for her successor to launch a new era at the iconic seafront resort.
That challenge will go to René Blino, who has been confirmed as the new Director General of Société des Bains de Mer’s (SBM) Monte-Carlo Beach as of 15th January.
Blino’s background was originally in retail, but he shifted to the hospitality industry 15 years ago. His most recent role was as General Manager of Madame Rêve Hotel in Paris, a five-star establishment known for its double Michelin-starred restaurant under Chef Stéphanie Le Quellec. His career has also included tenures at Hôtel Barrière les Neiges in Courchevel and Hôtel Barrière Le Gray d’Albion in Cannes.
As such, he brings to the table a variety of expertise in fields including human resources, accommodation, food and beverage, and hotel management, having also worked with the Shangri-La Group in multiple cities.
“I am very happy to welcome René Blino, who is the right person to write a new chapter in the legendary history of Monte-Carlo Beach, and more broadly, our Group’s seaside resort,” says Stéphane Valeri, President-Delegate of Monte-Carlo SBM.
An April reopening
The hotel at Monte-Carlo Beach will reopen for the season on 5th April 2024, followed on 12th April by the beach club zone.
Monte-Carlo Beach is to have a new leader after more than 20 years in the care of Danièle Garcelon. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo SBM
The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, two of Monaco’s most famous hotels and the jewels in Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s portfolio, have made it onto Travel + Leisure’s 2024 shortlist for the World’s Best Awards.
Every year, the online and print Travel + Leisure magazine asks its readers to vote for their favourite experiences in its World’s Best Awards survey. From hotels and resorts to cities and even specific islands, the rankings honour the finest in the travel and hospitality industries.
In the 2024, two of Monaco’s most emblematic addresses have made the prestigious cut: the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, both of which are run by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM).
The hotels also featured in last year’s list, but failed to make the Top 10. In 2023, the top spot was clinched by the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, closely followed by the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus. In third and fourth place were the Parisian Hôtel Plaza Athénée and Hôtel de Crillon. Madrid’s Rosewood Villa Magna ranked fifth, while the sixth position was taken by Rome’s Hotel de Russie. London’s Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park claimed the seventh spot, followed by One Aldwych, also in the English capital. Ninth place went to the Four Seasons Hotel Milano in Milan and the Top 10 was rounded out by the Shangri-La The Shard in London.
To give your vote to one or both of these Monaco icons in 2024, click here. There are some great prizes available to those who take part, but these are unfortunately only available to US-based participants. Voting closes on 26th February and the winners will be announced in Travel + Leisure’s August 2024 issue.
A never-before-seen event will be coming to Monaco in the next few weeks or months: an ecological hot air balloon chase that will see 10 international teams hunt down a red and white bedecked montgolfière from the forecourt of the Palais Princier and across the southern Italian Alps to Piedmont.
Called the Prince Albert II Cup, the race is set to take place sometime between 1st February and 30th April.
When the conditions are right, a balloon decorated in the signature red and white of the Principality and piloted by Alain Cruteanschii, the president of the Aeronauts of Monaco club that is behind the event, will take off from the Place du Palais on the Rock, marking the start of the race.
Then, from strategic locations dotted around the Principality, a further 10 balloons piloted by teams from a total of six nationalities will take to the air and begin their chase of the so-called “fox”.
Reaching to spectacular heights of 6,000 metres, the ecological hot air balloons will trace a course above the southern Italian Alps in pursuit of the leader and make for a landing zone on the other side of the French-Italian border in Piedmont.
The race will take place between Monaco and Piedmont, via the southern Italian Alps. Photo credit: F. Ducommun
With the support and backing of Prince Albert II of Monaco
“The idea was born five years ago, when we imagined the creation of an ecological hot air balloon in the colours of Monaco,” says Cruteanschii. “This dream has since become a reality, thanks in particular to the contribution of the Marzocco Group. The Aeronauts of Monaco then presented it to Prince Albert, who was delighted with the initiative. It’s a privilege to have his personal support, as well as that of his foundation.”
The reason a specific date for the event hasn’t yet been set – and won’t be until a few days in advance – is that the safe and successful flights of the 11 hot air balloons depends heavily on the weather. The person in charge of “finding the right moment” is Wim de Troyer.
“The weather will determine everything. Rather calm and dry weather with few clouds will be favourable to the smooth running of operations,” says the official meteorologist for the Prince Albert II Cup. “In the window of opportunity we’re looking for, there should be little wind on the ground so that set-up and take-off go smoothly. The currents will then have to carry the pilots towards the Italian Alps, before they begin their crossing. To make progress in this crucial stage of the route, a relatively strong wind at high altitude will be a necessity… This will finally allow Alain [Cruteanschii] to calmly control the race and reach a place that he will define as favourable for a safe landing.”
It is estimated that it will take between three and four hours to complete the journey on board the eco crafts.
Monaco Next Generation Project
What makes each of the hot air balloons involved in the race ecological is that they feature a “double envelope”, which is the term used to describe the balloon-shaped section of a craft. This change in the design of hot air balloons has been pioneered by the members of the Aeronauts of Monaco under their Monaco Next Generation Project.
Alain Cruteanschii, the president of the Aeronauts of Monaco, is pictured front right while his son Alix is front left. Photo courtesy of the Aeronauts of Monaco
“This reduces heat loss and saves up to 70% on fuel,” explains Cruteanschii. “The ‘light’ nacelle, made from titanium and composite materials, weighs almost 100kg less than if it were made from conventional wicker. The club’s partner, Romano Energy Monaco, will also be supplying us with biopropane produced by catalysing waste. This revolutionary fuel reduces our CO2 emissions by more than 60%.”
Another nod to the “Next Generation” element is that Cruteanschii will be flying with his son, Alix, and many of the other teams set to participate in the race are said to be “father-son or father-daughter pairs”.
At the end of last week, the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes formally tested out its tsunami warning procedure via the department’s FR-Alert system. Up and down the coast, phones buzzed and rang loudly to inform residents of a “major” threat, but while it was a fictional event this time, there is a strong probability of a tsunami in the Mediterranean in the years to come.
According to UNESCO, there is a nearly 100% chance of a tsunami with a wave of over a metre in height hitting the Mediterranean coastline in the next 30 years. Indeed, since 1600BCE, there have been at least 290 tsunamis recorded in the Mediterranean, a region that is home to 500 million people.
The most recent threat to the south of France and Monaco occurred in 2003, when an underwater earthquake just off the Algerian coast caused a minor tsunami. Thankfully, the damage locally was minimal.
‘Tsunami Ready’ certification
On Friday 19th January, the same day that thousands in the Alpes-Maritimes received the tsunami alert on their phones, UNESCO Technical Secretary for the Mediterranean Denis Chang Seng officially recognised Cannes as being ‘Tsunami Ready’ under the organisation’s Tsunami Recognition Programme.
The certification acknowledges the efforts that have been made by the city and its mayor, David Lisnard, to prepare Cannes for an incoming tsunami over the last few years. These include the large-scale testing of alert systems and the emergency service response, and the installation of public evacuation notices.
Since 2018, Cannes has been recognised by France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs as a “model city” with regards to its population protections.
“This distinction obtained by Cannes is a first in the Mediterranean and in mainland France,” said Lisnard at the ‘Tsunami Ready’ ceremony. “It is recognition of the concrete municipal approach to the anticipation and management of these natural phenomena [that was] initiated in 2014… Thanks to this methodical work and the sharing of information regarding appropriate reactions with all stakeholders, potentially dramatic events can be better understood. Our priority is to limit material damage and, above all, to avoid human losses.”
Globally, 44 cities have the same ‘Tsunami Ready’ status, although they are predominately in the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean.
Monaco Life explores the connections – historical and etymological – between the Ancient Greek hero of Heracles and the Principality, including the story of how its most famous port came to bear his name.
What do a divine hero of Ancient Greek mythology and a small, wealthy state on the north of the Mediterranean coast, some 1,400 kilometres from Thebes, have in common? Quite a lot as it happens, and far more than just the name of a harbour.
Portus Herculis Monœci
Port Hercule is almost certainly the most obvious connection between Heracles – Hercules to the Romans – and Monaco, but may still be subtle enough to slip past many already familiar with the Principality and its history.
It is the largest port in Monaco and is a deep natural bay that is somewhat rare on this stretch of coast, making it a popular choice for sailors in the region for millennia.
According to the historical archives of the Principality, “Coins dating back to the first quarter of the fourth century BCE from Marseille, Syracuse, Peloponnesos and Cyprus prove that Monaco was integrated into trade in the Mediterranean Sea. These relics, along with many others, cause us to estimate that the highest level of activity in the ancient port was around 300BCE.”
Other artefacts, including those of Carthaginian origin, have been found in Monaco itself.
Julius Caesar is said to have visited the Portus Herculis Monœci in 50BCE. Photo by Monaco Life
The Romans are believed to have been behind the naming of the port as we would recognise it today. Portus Herculis Monœci was an “essential refuge along the shipping route that connected Italy to the province of Narbonne and then to Hispania” for the growing empire before the turn of the millennium and Julius Caesar is understood to have stopped off here in 50BCE.
Monoikos before the Romans
But even before this heyday in Classical Antiquity, there were hints of a connections between Monaco or Monoikos as it was first described by Hecataeus of Miletus circa 500BCE and the Greek hero.
Some attribute Monoikos to the “Phoenician or Hebrew words Menihh or Monêhh, which mean ‘restful’”, says government sources, while others tie it to a temple supposedly built in the region in honour of Heracles. Legend describes the hero as being “solitary” or “having one temple only”: monos-only and oikos-house.
The true origins of the name may never be known. It is very likely that a Ligurian tribe had been living in the area before the Greeks and its overseas colony of Massalia, now Marseille, laid claim to this coveted piece of land and sea.
A fascinating array of artefacts from Monaco’s past await discovery at the Musée d’Anthropologie Préhistorique. Photo via Facebook
The 12 Labours of Heracles
The base for all these stories and myths would appear to have sprung from the Labours of Heracles legend, which saw the semi-divine hero complete a series of seemingly impossible tasks at the behest of King Eurystheus.
For his 10th challenge, Heracles was sent to capture the cattle belonging to the giant Geryon, who lived on the island of Erytheia near modern-day Cádiz. On his way back, Heracles is said to have taken a route along the northern Mediterranean shoreline and cut a path into the cliffs above Monaco. Some tales even say that this is how the Rock or the Rocher of Monaco became to be.
Mentions of a path bearing Heracles’ name appear in writing as early as the fourth century BCE.
It is also rumoured that a temple dedicated to the Theban hero was constructed where the Église de Sainte-Dévote sits today, but there are other suggestions that it sat high above the Principality, perhaps even where the Trophée d’Auguste now stands.
Ercole of Monaco
Did you know that Monaco even had a ruler with a name inspired by Heracles? Ercole, who lived from 1562 until his assassination in 1604, was the Lord of Monaco for more than 15 years. He was an unlikely ruler, being the youngest of four sons of Honoré I and Isabella Grimaldi, but added his part in legacy of the Grimaldi family as the dynastic rulers of the Principality when his son, Honoré II, became the first in the line to adopt the title of Prince of Monaco.
Other members of the Grimaldi family are believed to have carried on the tradition of using the name Ercole. It was given to Prince Honoré II’s own son, who died before he could take on the role of Prince himself. The Palais Princier de Monaco’s Hercules Gallery, which was part of the vast renovations completed last year, was reportedly named so in his memory.
The Hercules Gallery of the Palais Princier de Monaco. Photo by Monaco Life
Herculis and an Olympic tie
This link with the Ancient Greek hero has also given its name to the Meeting Herculis EBS athletics event, which will this year take place on 12th July, two weeks before the Paris Olympic Games behind on 26th July.
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An empowering and conservation-focused competition, the Ocean Pitch Challenge has announced that applications can now be submitted for its 2024 edition ahead of the final in May, which will see the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco’s CEO Olivier Wenden take a place on the jury.
The event, of which the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco (FPA2) is a partner, is a collaborative effort between the Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) and RespectOcean in France to support entrepreneurs and thinkers is making real their dreams and aspirations.
Not only does the Ocean Pitch Challenge help shine a light on pioneering conservation concepts, but it also provides a platform for skill enhancement, particularly when it comes to delivering a strong pitch.
The 10 handpicked finalists will all receive specialist coaching in the art of pitching to give them the skills to better present their ideas to potential investors.
The event also acts as a networking hub, connecting participants with experts, potential partners and investors in the maritime conservation field.
As such, winners and participants can expect rewards that extend beyond trophies and titles. These include media exposure, opportunities to showcase their projects at major events and memberships to influential networks. Such rewards are designed to offer real-world benefits and help scale the participants’ projects.
A grand finale will take place in Paris in May and it has been confirmed that the FPA2’s CEO and Vice-President Olivier Wenden will be on the deciding jury.
Applications must be submitted by 29th February 2024.
Click here for more information about the Ocean Pitch Challenge and here to submit an application.
After 15 years as Artistic Director of the Princess Grace Academy, Luca Masala is proud to tell Monaco Life, “We have a 100% success rate. All our graduates have joined top companies around the world”.
Luca Masala was a former ballet dancer, trained at La Scala in Milan, the School of American Ballet, and the Princess Grace Academy of Classical Dance in Monaco, at that time directed by Marika Besobrasova. Over the course of his career as a professional dancer, he was part of renowned companies, such as the Royal Ballet of Flanders, the Ballet National de Nancy, the Wiesbaden Staatsheather in Germany, and the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich. As a principal dancer, he performed many of the lead roles in the classical and contemporary repertoire.
At the end of his dancing career, he transitioned into teaching becoming a Maître de Ballet for the Ballet du Capitole de Toulouse where he collaborated with many known choreographers.
In 2009 he was appointed as Artistic Director of Teaching and Pedagogy at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco, with the mandate to bring back the luster to this school for elite dancers. The Academy is now one of the best dance schools in the world, so we can say … mission accomplished!
Luca Masala, photo credit: David Herrero
Monaco Life: Is being a dancer quite a different profession from being an instructor?
Luca Masala: I actually think a professional dancer is quite like a teacher, as they both share the same quality of giving. As a dancer you must be a very generous person who wants to bestow to others; the same is required to be an instructor, maître de ballet or even a choreographer. You give to students and teach them how to excel and give them the tools on how to cope in this challenging environment. The dancer in turn gives of himself or herself on the stage.
When you became a director, were you given free range to implement your ideas?
I was named director of the academy in 2009 and I was asked to bring back the academy to its international level. I had been called at the last minute and had to propose a project that included how to update and upgrade the school curriculum, but also the need to refurbish Casa Mia to be more livable for the students of our times. The school had considerably faded together with the previous director. I had carte blanche to prepare a business plan that was accepted and progressively successfully implemented.
Do you feel you have accomplished your goals after 15 years at the helm of the Princess Grace Academy?
Hard to believe it is already my 15th season, and I can proudly say that we advanced further than I would ever have imagined when I started. The Academy is one of the best dance schools in the world. We are part of the Ballets of Monte-Carlo, and that was a very important move from our beloved President Princess Caroline, and of course Jean-Christophe Maillot.
I am very satisfied and overjoyed, as the young students graduating from the Academy have become professional dancers, they have joined reputable companies, and are having great dancing careers, with a few of them are playing leading roles in Jean-Christophe Maillot’s creations. It is a very big honour.
Princess Grace Academy students are often hand selected by Luca himself. Photo credit: Alice Blangero.
How do you challenge each other in your team to improve and innovate?
It is essential to be surrounded by people with a passion. They do not have to share your exact same vision; people are different, and they should be free to express their own opinions as this enriches us all.
But what brings us together is the love we have for the Academy, for the students and the education we give them; people must have a generous spirit, be very loyal and put their heart in everything they do.
Maybe the reason why Jean-Christophe called me, was that we are very similar, we give over-and-above the sense of duty, always with a passion. Our Academy project is worth it even if takes so much time away from our private lives. We try to motivate each other in the team, avoid falling into a routine that would make our existence boring. The idea is to keep evolving and progressing.
How do you recruit talented students? Which percentage of graduates join top companies?
Recruiting is a difficult task. It can be done in different ways; we have students taking summer and winter courses, or private auditions in the Academy. The other way is myself going around the world finding talented youngsters who are not able to come to us. The extensive travel is concentrated in certain parts of the year, demanding all my commitment. Last season alone I scouted 15,000 in total! Our aim is to find somebody who is passionate and dedicated and has something to give to our profession. We have a 100% success rate. Since 2009, all graduates have joined top companies around the world.
A student at the Princess Grace Academy. Photo credit: Alice Blangero.
Could you tell us the qualities of the ideal dancer of our times?
I like to be surrounded by people who love what they do. So, I do not focus only on technical qualities like strength, flexibility, control, precision; it is more about their passion, when you see there is a visceral need to dance, to give back and touch somebody else’s soul. I rather look for that kind of kid, a human being who can inspire and move others, instead of just copying and being technically perfect. Today, young people are lost in the virtual world of social media, so they need role models who inspire, and stir the same strong sentiments in them.
The students entering the Academy are adolescent from different nationalities and cultures. How do you manage to offer top ballet training, and at the same prepare them for life?
Yes, the Academy not only provides excellent dance instruction, but is a school of life, a home away from home. We dedicate a lot of our time to prepare kids to live in a community, accept their cultural diversity, acquire social skills and moral values, accept each other’s differences to get richer from association.
Having 19 nationalities this season is a gift, something very positive. You must explain certain things, teach tolerance, something that is lacking in our world, and understanding the reason behind their cultural differences; make them realise how to inspire people so they follow your ideas and learn how to fight for them through your profession with the fine instrument that is your body.
Princess Grace Academy students come from all over the world to train in Monaco. Photo credit: Alice Blangero.
I heard you are working on a new project together with Thierry Leviez of Pavillon Bosio. Can you please tell us about it?
For the Imprevus, created by Jean-Christophe Maillot, taking place every March at the company’s atelier in Beausoleil, a young choreographer from the Ballets des Monte-Carlo works together with the students from Pavillon Bosio and the Academy. They create ballets choreography with staging, costumes, video projections, etc. This year the company will be on tour at that time, so Jean-Christophe proposed to do the Imprevus with Elias Lazaridis, a Greek world-class dancer and choreographer based in Belgium, who is coming to prepare a piece for the Academy Gala. He has collaborated with the most prominent dancers in the UK, Hofesh Shechter and Akram Khan, and since 2010 has been working for the Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui dance company. This newly created piece will be performed on avant-premiere during the Imprevus and will debut at the Salle Garnier in June 2024 for the Academy Gala, a special annual event, a unique stage experience, where the young dancers showcase their talent and achievements.
What are your goals to take the Academy into the future?
Even if 15 years is a long time for a director to last, there are still plenty of things that need to be done. The main objective is to provide the top-of-the-line instruction, continuously striving for improvement, to help the students find the right tools to succeed. As a director, it is important to be able to speak your mind without fear of being misunderstood or judged harshly, be totally honest to help them advance further in their lives preparing for them for the stage and for life. There are certainly new projects in the making that I cannot yet reveal.
Monaco’s Office des Émissions de Timbres-Poste has released three new and limited edition stamps for 2024 and each bears a theme close to the heart of Prince Albert II.
The Monegasque tradition of issuing stamps dates back to the summer of 1885, when a set featuring the effigy of the Prince Charles III went on sale. Since then, philately – the name for the study of postage stamps, postal history and the collection and appreciation of stamps – has become something of a national hobby.
Prince Rainier III was a renowned philatelist and he founded the Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies de Monaco, which can still be visited, in 1950.
In the early days, the museum exhibited the collections belonging to his predecessors, Prince Albert I and Prince Louis II, but today, Prince Rainier’s extensive personal collection is displayed too.
The first two of the new stamps released for 2024 are a tribute to the Aeronauts of Monaco, who have recently been in headlines for their attempts to create a more environmentally friendly way to practice their hobby.
The association has developed an “ecological balloon” that members say saves up to 70% in energy over normal hot air balloons by using double insulated walls. It has been dubbed the Monaco Next Generation Project.
The drawings for these two stamps were done by artist Thierry Mordant and can be used for letters up to €1.96.
The third stamp bears a Monegasque crest and pays homage to the founding of the Federation of Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco, the Prince Albert II-led association that connects towns and cities all over France and Italy who have at some point in time been linked to the Grimaldi family. The first sites were recognised in 2015 and there are in the vicinity of 150 members today.
This stamp is a €2 model whose layout was designed by Créaphil.
The third stamp is a nod to Prince Albert’s Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco network.
Each of the new stamps is available on limited runs of 40,000. The hot air balloon stamps are sold as a pair.
To visit the online shop, which also sells a range of stamps from previous collections, click here.
For information about the Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies de Monaco, click here.
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After a packed January schedule, which will see the Opéra de Monte-Carlo take on Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto and then Brahm’s haunting blend of Baroque funeral cantata and Romantic oratorio in Ein Deutsches Requiem, the first part of February will be rather quiet, but that will all change towards the end of the month…
It won’t be until 23rd February that the Opéra de Monte-Carlo will appear again on stage in the Principality, but the return will be dramatic.
Elements of the dark and the light will revive the season over four performances between 23rd and 29th February as the Opéra recreates two one-act operas: Cavalleria Rusticana and Gianni Schicchi.
1889’s Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni is based on a short story of the same name. Set in Sicily, it is a tale of jealousy, revenge, lust, betrayal and murder, but without the melodrama that can often mar these kinds of dramatic pieces.
Gianni Schicchi, known widely as Giacomo Puccini’s only comedy, takes its inspiration from a scene in Dante’s Divine Comedy. The opera, which opened first in 1918, could almost be set today: it is the story of a scheming yet ingenious peasant who is called upon by the greedy relatives of a rich old man to change his will to their benefit. In a sleight of hand no one saw coming, he rewrites the will and leaves the fortune to himself, thus enabling him to pay for his daughter’s wedding.
The full details about these performances can be found here.
Rolando Villazón makes his return
On 24th February, famed Mexican tenor, stage director, author, and radio and TV personality Rolando Villazón, who directed The Barber of Seville in Monaco during the spring of 2023, will make his return to the Principality.
He will be performing extracts from works by Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Donizetti, Verdi, Offenbach, Tosti and more, accompanied by the recently founded Swiss Symphonic Orchestra, as conducted by Lena-Lisa Wüstendörfer.
Tickets have already sold out, but you can click here for more information about the concert.
Don’t forget…
Giulio Cesare in Egitto will be performed on 24th, 26th, 28th and 30th January. A gala night will coincide with the opening performance. For reservations and more information, click here.
Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem will be revived on the Monaco stage on 29th January. To reserve your seat or for more information about the concert, click here.
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Step into a world where ancient Japanese traditions meet contemporary innovation at the ‘Made in Japan in Monaco’ event, which will be hosted by the Fairmont Monte Carlo in early February.
Scheduled for 3rd and 4th February in the hotel’s La Salle de la Mer, this cultural exposition, which has already been held three times in the Principality with much success, aims to deepen the ties between Japan and Monaco through a unique showcase of traditional and modern Japanese arts and crafts.
Among the notable exhibitors confirmed to appear at the event are a collection from the cities of Bizen and Setouchi, who will present the famous style of Bizen pottery as well as Japanese swords and armours. The Saga Prefecture will be showcasing its renowned Imari porcelain while the culinary arts of Japan will also be well represented by companies such as Amabuki Shuzo and Mitsutake Shuzojo for spirits and saké and Rinsendo with the Inaniwa udon.
The craft sector is equally impressive, with Sansuido’s Kamakura-lacquered products and Joewell Urushi Scissors demonstrating the Iwate lacquering technique on professional scissors both on the list. Mykelys and Mimikohome will add a touch of kawaii and home decor inspired by the world of kimonos.
A special feature of this year’s edition is the ‘Happy Kimono Project’ by Kimono Beauty Japan, a group that is attending for the second year. Kimono Beauty Japan specialises in the traditional Japanese garment and will offer a variety of kimono-themed events and performances at the Fairmont.
The event’s organisers, Monaco Emu, will be hosting a special invite-only tour of the show on 2nd February.
Tickets for the public days cost €10 per person and can be bought on the door. Click here for more information.
The most recent event in the busy 2023/24 AS Monaco Kids Tour schedule took place in Menton, just a short drive from the Principality, on Wednesday 17th January and AS Monaco’s prime midfielder and French international Youssouf Fofana went along too, much to the delight of the young fans who had turned out.
“It was great to see all the youngsters who turned up despite the weather,” he said following the event. “I’m very happy to spend some time with them, they’re behind the club and it’s important to develop their commitment from an early age. Being here today is a way of giving something back. I wish I’d had this experience when I was their age.”
The children and their parents who made the effort to join in with the activities despite the rain were rewarded with an autograph signing session and a chance to get up close and personal with the Paris-born 25-year-old.
The children also got to meet Bouba, the official AS Monaco mascot, try their hand – or foot – at an accuracy contest, take part in a quiz on the Rouges et Blancs, test out a virtual reality experience set in the Stade Louis II and play the latest FC24 games on PlayStation5.
One lucky fan went home with a signed Fofana jersey while other prizes handed out included an invitation to the upcoming AS Monaco match against Le Havre at the Stade Louis II on 4th February.
“A way of giving back”
This season’s AS Monaco Kids Tour has been a resounding success, spanning three countries and covering over 930 kilometres thus far. It has engaged with over 1,700 children and seen participation from professional and Academy players alike, adding a touch of star power to the events.
Next stop for the Kids Tour is Vence on Wednesday 24th January.
