Day: 26 December 2017

The outstanding catalogue that accompanied the exhibition “Designing Dreams, A Celebration of Léon Bakst” has been named by the New York Times art critic Roberta Smith as one of the best art books of 2017.

The exhibition by the same name was held at the New National Museum of Monaco’s Villa Sauber from October 23, 2016, to January 15, 2017.

The publication, edited by Célia Bernasconi, John E. Bowlt and artist Nick Mauss, brings together the scientific contributions of leading researchers, art historians and dance historians to pay tribute to the greatest stage designer of the modern era. It highlights Bakst’s greatest achievements for the stage, but also aims to demonstrate his decisive influence in textile design and fashion.

The fabric covers of each work, available in five colours, were stencilled by Nick Mauss during a residency in Monaco, inspired by motifs created by Léon Bakst.

Designing Dreams, A Celebration by Léon Bakst, presents in detail Bakst’s drawings, costumes and motifs for fabrics, his unpublished writings on decoration and fashion, new studies on his sources of inspiration and the sharing of his vision. It also includes the installations and scenography realised in situ by Nick Mauss.

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A young divorcee who sought to drown her sorrows in alcohol has narrowly escaped a jail sentence for driving while drunk, Monaco-Matin reports.

The Monegasque woman was stopped in her speeding Mercedes at about 4 am on Wednesday, December 20, after having passed through a red light on the blvd d’Italie. She was too intoxicated to give a breath sample and was taken to Princess Grace Hospital, where a blood test showed a rate of 1.44/g of alcohol per litre of blood.

Appearing handcuffed in court, she was reminded that this was not her first offence – three years ago she had been arrested for drunk driving.

The prosecution called for a jail sentence of four months, however, her defence counsel argued that she was a woman in torment and called for a split sentence. The tribunal decided that she should be sentenced to six months in jail, suspended for three years.

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The newly-formed Monaco Association of Latin America (AMLA) welcomed 37 children to its successful Christmas tree workshop on December 19 at Twiga.

The youngsters, aged two and seven, assembled six different types of Christmas ornaments with the help of their parents and AMLA volunteers. Santa Claus then arrived to call on stage each child by name to hand over a certificate, a medal and a goody bag. Each child hung his or her ornament on the Christmas tree.

The event ended with a Zumba class for big and small with Latin American songs, given by the Colombian AMLA representative.

This Christmas tree is now standing in the Princesse Grace Hospital ward for children with paediatric emergencies.

AMLA thanked the young participants for their excellent work and their generous parents for their collaboration and support, with a special thank you to those who closely collaborated on making this event possible: Petra Bungert, Workshop Creative Director; the Théâtre des Muses for providing the Santa Claus; Albert Braquetti; the Princess Grace Hospital, Madame Berlioz and Madame Seneque for approving and receiving the Christmas tree; and Destinazur for transporting the tree at no charge.

The €300 raised has been donated to the Richmond Global Health Alliance to help fund their project in aid for chronically ill children in Nicaragua.

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A total of nearly 100,000 police officers and members of the Armed Forces were deployed over the Christmas weekend in France as part of Operation Sentinel.

The Ministry of State mobilised 54,000 police, 36,000 gendarmes and 7,000 soldiers – some 6,000 more than last year. Minister Gerard Collomb said that the security of French citizens, as well as that of tourists, was his “absolute priority”.

Since 2015, more than 241 people have died in jihadist attacks in France, and the threat of further incidents remains at an “elevated” level. Six hundred and fifty churches and 45 Christmas markets received extra security over the weekend. A total of almost 7,000 Catholic masses were held on Sunday and Monday, all without incident.

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Audiences at the 42nd International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo will be treated to a very special show in the Fontvieille big top, as the Organising Committee, presided over by HSH Princess Stephanie, has invited the best acts in the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of modern circus.

This edition of the circus, which takes place from January 18 to 28, will feature The Vavilov Troupe and its leaping acrobats in the banquine tradition – with six former gymnasts that include two bearers 
who propel three male and one female flyers into the air where they perform somersaults and twists before finishing with an exceptional triple somersault.

The National Hungarian Circus, presented by Joseph and Merrylu Richter, will showcase the Grand Exotic Group, five acrobats riding one horse, the comedian and mime Andrey Jigalov and contortionists Duo Miracle.

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