Thursday 30 March, 6.30 pm, Grimaldi Forum Monaco – Espace Indigo
Thursday Live Session with Theo Lawrence & The Hearts
Information: +377 99 99 20 20
Thurs. March 30 – Espace Indigo
Month: February 2017
Thurs. March 30 – Revenez Demain at the Theatre Princesse Grace
Thursday 30 March, 8.30 pm, Théâtre Princesse Grace
Revenez Demain (Come Back Tomorrow) by Blandine Costaz with Marianne Basler and Gilles Cohen
Information: +377 93 25 32 27
Princess Charlene goes the extra mile for charity
It was a riveting day at the races Saturday with the inaugural “Prix Princesse Charlène de Monaco-Charity Mile” at the Hippodrome in Cagnes-sur-Mer.
With the Mediterranean sun beaming overhead, the venue’s three restaurants packed with diners overlooking the racetrack, and horse racing fans and families filling the stands, the setting couldn’t have been more enthusiastic to welcome HSH Princess Charlene, who has spent nearly a year helping to organise this never been done before event in the French, and European, horse racing calendar.
“It was wonderful to launch this Charity Mile in Cagnes-sur-Mer and a great way for French Racing to support charitable endeavours in the local community,” Princess Charlene told Monaco Life. “I was very touched by the welcome I received and it was great to see so many families enjoying a day at the races.”
Dressed in an Akris Jockey Jacquard Coat, the Princess was a gracious award presenter in the Winner’s Circle, making certain the spotlight was shared with the jockeys, owners and race federation officials, including Mr François Forcioli-Conti, President of the Côte d’Azur Racing Society.
The Charity Mile matched 18 horses with 18 local charitable associations and foundations as chosen by the Princess, and which supported three main themes: children, animals and the needy. These organisations were invited as special guests of the event, and had an opportunity to speak to the crowds to explain their missions.
Sponsors collectively donated €50,000 to the Charity Mile, and this was divided amongst the 18 groups, depending on the race results.
Ronan Thomas brought his horse Miracle des Aigles home for a sweet victory, earning €10,000 for Action Innocence, the Monaco-based charity founded in 2002 that helps to inform children and adolescents on the dangers of the internet.
“We are very happy, we didn’t know we would win,” President of Action Innocence, Louisette Levy-Soussan Azzoaglio, who had never been to a horserace before, told Monaco Life. “We are very honoured to have been chosen by Princess Charlene.”
Second place (€6,000) was awarded to CDEAM-Handi Mobile Equitation while €4,000 for third placement went to the Monaco Red Cross.
Each of the other 15 associations received €2,000. This involved Monaco’s Children & Future, the group that runs No Finish Line. Founder Philippe Verdier, who was also a first-time visitor to the Hippodrome, talked to Monaco Life. “We received an email telling us that our association had been chosen for the Charity Mile. It is a big honour, and we are very proud.”
Brit John Hammond, who for the last three decades has been training thoroughbred horses in northern France, best summed up the spirit of the day. “This particular race is a great initiative, a brilliant innovation. Good on the Princess!”
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The heart of the matter in Monaco
The Grimaldi Forum will be the venue for a specialist heart conference starting on Thursday, March 2, and continuing through Saturday, March 4. Organised by the Heart Valve Society, this congress will bring together about 600 specialists in heart valves, from all over Europe, the United States, as well as from Asia and the Middle East. The focus will be on the small valves in the heart that prevent the blood from flowing back in the wrong direction.
Professor Gilles Dreyfus, Medical Director of the Cardio-Thoracic Centre of Monaco, is the President elected for the year 2017. He is enthusiastic about bringing his colleagues together in such an environment of excellence. “It’s the perfect meeting of all the world’s specialists, be they cardiac surgeons, cardiologists or researchers, eager to participate and exchange knowledge,” he said.
Topics include some of the amazing advances in medical imaging within the heart, indications of risks, and also the benefits of early intervention on valves, and the important role of Biomarkers in surgery.
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Monaco debut for Mastroni
The Italian bass Andrea Mastroni will soon be making his debut in the role of Fiesco, in Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra”, and this will be a double debut: firstly in two performances, in concert version on March 5 and 8, at the Auditorium Rainier III in Monaco, thanks to an initiative by the Monte-Carlo Opera, and later for a performance at the Paris Théâtre des Champs-Élysées with the same company, on March 12.
“Making a debut in the role of Jacopo Fiesco is a dream come true for any bass,” Mastroni said. “ ‘Simon Boccanegra’ is a very special opera in all ways, the recitatives are intense in a modern way, they demand spianato singing, heightening the text in such a way that it is almost impossible to break the drama. Singing Fiesco means entering in a world of nobility and imposing dramatic quality,” the artist, who was born in Milan, added. “The writing of the role requires the singer to extend himself and demands truly flexible acting skills. I am also really excited to be making my debut accompanied by some great singers.”
For the three performances, Andrea Mastroni will be accompanied by other opera stars of the moment, including soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, tenor Ramón Vargas and the baritone, Ludovic Tézier, alongside the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic and the Monte-Carlo Opera Choir, all conducted by Pinchas Steinberg.
This is becoming an extremely important season for Andrea Mastroni’s burgeoning career, as in September he opened the season at the Hamburg Staatsoper with “Die Zauberflöte” – where he returned as Sparafucile in “Rigoletto” – and he opened the season at La Fenice in Venice in the lead role of the world premiere of the opera “Aquagranda”.
He also made his debut at the Met in New York (Sparafucile in “Rigoletto”). After his first appearance as Fiesco, another debut awaits him in May, this time at the Royal Opera House in London, where he will perform in “Don Carlos”, conducted by Bertrand de Billy in a Nicholas Hytner production.
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Monaco’s 2016 census results to be announced shortly
The ninth Scientific Council of IMSEE (Monaco Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies), met under its director, Lionel Galfré, to discuss several issues, including the forthcoming 2016 census results to be announced in the next few weeks, the issue of the Monegasque SIREN/SIRET number and the possibility of Monaco’s participation in the OECD International Programme for the Monitoring of Student Achievement (PISA). Other subjects addressed on Monday, February 27, touched upon the numerous studies and surveys by IMSEE – counting the barometer of the retail trade, GDP results for 2015 and the opportunity for Monaco to participate or not in international statistical surveys.
For the record, IMSEE was created in January 2011 and its Scientific Council has an advisory role. In particular, it considers the needs to be met and studies to be carried out, the state of the statistical system and the annual survey programme. It is composed of 11 members, whose term of office is three years. It is currently chaired by Professor Pierre-André Chiappori.