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Day: 26 November 2019

Chinese-Monaco circus festivals form new bond

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/11/2019

Monaco continues to strengthen ties with China, this time through its coveted circus festival. H.S.H. Princess Stephanie this week signed an agreement for the strategic cooperation between Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival and Chimelong Group, organiser of the China International Circus Festival.

The closing ceremony for the 6th China International Circus Festival was held at Zhuhai Chimelong Hengqin International Circus City in south China’s Guangdong Province on 23rd November. Princess Stephanie, President of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, attended the ceremony during which signed the new agreement.

“Both China International Circus Festival and Zhuhai are each incredibly beautiful, and we are more than thrilled to sign the cooperation agreement between Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival and Chimelong Group, to drive the circus industry to the next stage of development,” Princess Stephanie said at the ceremony.

Chimelong Group Chairman Su Zhigang added, “With the strategic cooperation, Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival and Chimelong Group will jointly promote circus art and culture around the world through mutual visits and exchanges, to continuously improve the circus-going experience, bring more and better performances to audiences worldwide, and, finally, to bring joy and happiness to circus-goers.”

Over 200 performers of 24 circus troupes from 22 countries and regions performed some of the world’s most exciting circus acts at the 6th China International Circus Festival, the first time that the event was held jointly with the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival.

The China International Circus Festival was also attended by some of the circus industry’s most authoritative figures, including Vice President of Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival Urs Pilz, President of Firebird Productions in the USA Peter Dubinsky, Presient of International Circus Festival of Italy-Latina Fabio Montico, and Artistic Director and Chief Director of the Russian State Circus Company (Rosgoscirk) Georgy Eradze.

“Despite the many challenges facing the world’s circus sector, China’s circus market is continually developing and growing, which is proving to be a significant factor in maintaining the heritage that has been built up over centuries as well as to assuring the future developent of global circus culture,” said Peter Dubinsky.

Chimelong Group plans to continue to increase investment in circus and tourism development, making Chimelong a world-class tourist destination.

“In order to further promote the development of a circus culture worldwide, Chimelong Group will set up a circus college, allowing circus troupes from all over the world to have their best performers serve as instructors in a ‘talent exchange’,” revealed Su Zhigang.

 

Top photo: H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie, President of Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, and Chimelong Group Chairman Su Zhigang at the closing ceremony for the 6th China International Circus Festival 

International Gymnastics Gala is back

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/11/2019

This coming weekend, the Princess Grace International Gymnastics Gala returns to the Principality after a several year hiatus with a new look in honour of what would have been Princess Grace’s 90th birthday.

The two day event sponsored by Amber Lounge Lifestyle has attracted gymnasts from all over the world who will be competing for one of four areas: Ladies artistic gymnastics, men’s artistic gymnastics, acrobatic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics.

An international jury has been assembled to judge the participants and will include many 2020 Olympic hopefuls as well as special guests from the United States –  gymnast Katelyn Ohashi and her well-respected coach Valerie Kondos Field, who will be making additional appearances around the Principality at various schools and sports clubs.

Katelyn Ohashi
January 4th, 2019
Copyright Don Liebig

Katelyn introduced a whole new audience to her sport after performing an incredible “perfect 10” routine for her UCLA Gymnastics Team at a competition, which went viral and now has more than 100 million hits globally. Katelyn’s energy and obvious love of her sport have been inspirational to a new generation of young athletes.

“We’re always told to fit into this box and do what other people expect of us and be what other people expect of us. What I’ve learned is that to really be successful is to love every single thing you do and to find joy in that,” Katelyn said. “I try and achieve my daily goal to make one thing more beautiful every single day. I want to bring my joy of gymnastics and of life to Monaco and the Gala International de Gymnastique Princess Grace.”

Her coach, Miss Val as she is better known, is the now-retired head coach of the seven-time NCAA Champion, 22-time Regional and 18-time Pac 12 Champion UCLA Women’s Gymnastics team. Inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 she is also a four-time winner of the ‘National Coach of the Year’ award and ‘Coach of the Century’. 

The competitions will culminate with the presentation of the awards by HSH Prince Albert II, a sport enthusiast and athlete himself. 

The event will take place 30th November and 1st December at the Salle Gaston Médecin in Stade Louis II.

 

 

Monaco Musicians celebrated on St. Cecilia Day

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/11/2019

The musical world of the Principality gathered together last Sunday to celebrate St. Cecile, the patron saint of musicians, at the Cathedral of Monaco.

Monsignor Bernard Barsi had the pleasure on 24th November of celebrating a service especially for the musicians of Monaco. The mass was punctuated by several musical interludes from local artists who performed a vast array songs including classical works, traditional songs and the national anthem, the Monegasque Hymn.

The Prince Riflemen’s Orchestra, under the baton of Major Olivier Dréan, the Master of the Cathedral and the Little Singers of Monaco directed by Pierre Debat, Master of Chapel, Municipal Music under the direction of Ludovic Tallarico, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo and the choirs of the Monte-Carlo Opera directed by Stefano Visconti, the students of the class of lyric singing at Rainier III and U Cantin Academy of A Roca entertained those in attendance, with the grand finale being an interpretation of Cantate à Sainte Cecile performed by all the musicians at the request of the Monsignor.

The Mayor surrounded by his deputy J. Pastor and K. Ardisson Salopek, as well as (from left to right): Mr. Dittlot, Mgr. B. Barsi, the family of the Monegasque composer H. Crovetto, J. Boisson, and representatives of the musical components of the Principality.

The Cantate was composed 70 years ago by Henri Crovotto and was dedicated to Abbé Henri Carol, who was master of the Chapel of the Monaco Cathedral at the time. The composer’s family was in attendance and were touched by the tribute.

Sadly, the inclement weather meant the musical procession departing from the church had to be cancelled, but guests were later welcomed by Mayor Georges Marsan at the Mairie for a reception.

Sainte Cecile was an early Christian martyr who, though pledged to remain a virgin, was forced into marriage and later converted many people, including her husband, to Christianity. Legend has it that she heard celestial music whilst she was being tortured by Roman soldiers, hence giving her the title of patron of musicians.

 

 

No Finish Line results

by: Stephanie Horsman
26/11/2019

This year’s No Finish Line was forced to stop one day earlier due to the weekend storms, which left one competitor hospitalised with a fractured pelvis after being swept away by a wave.

Officials in charge of the annual charity race made the decision to cease the race on Saturday 23rd November at 5pm after only 171 hours of total race time, lessening the event by nearly a full day.

The dangerous weather conditions prevented nearly 2,600 participants from joining in, and it contributed greatly to this year’s goal of achieving 450,000 kilometres via walking or running.

Despite the weather, the total number of entrants was still an impressive 11,624, comprising 347 teams and nearly 300,000 kilometres racked up. As compensation for losing a full day of the race, Children & Future opted to pay €1.20 per kilometre, rather than the €1 originally agreed upon, thus ending up with a grand total of €351,151 destined to finance 20 projects and programmes aimed at helping sick or underprivileged children.

The men’s individual winner of the race was first time winner Daniele Juan Alimonti, who went a total of 804 kilometres, second place went to Robert Miorin who clocked 743 kilometres, and third place winner Patrice Latch travelled 730 kilometres.

Three-time winner Mimi Chevillon was first for the women and fourth overall with 628 kilometres. After her was Paola Coccato Zurcher with 599 kilometres and Annick Fouchard Djebli with 554 kilometres.

The best performing team was Collaboration United We Stand, who came in with a grand total of 18,900 kilometres, followed by the Cardio-Thoracic Centre of Monaco with 9,796 and third was the CMB with 9,601 kilometreese under their belts.

Cathy Muller won the No Finish Line Trophy for the ladies by participating in more than one NFL this year, Paris and Nice. Patrice Latch was the men’s winner, having participated in all six No Finish Line’s this year. He was also presented with a special award for this accomplishment.

Meanwhile, the Monaco Government has been forced to defend its decision to keep the race going, despite an orange weather alert at the time. “We will analyse this 20th edition with the organisers to draw maximum lessons for next year’s race,” said the government, according to Monaco Matin. “We will consider several options, for example, professional safety coaching or the relocation of the race to another area of ​​the Principality, better protected, which would make it easier to accommodate the many participants in bad weather. ”

 

Monaco’s Apprentice Collectors head to Venice

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/11/2019

Monaco is continuing to shape the next generation of artists with its ‘Apprentice Collectors’ programme, the participants of which have just returned from the Venice Biennale.

For the fourth year in a row, the New National Museum of Monaco, in partnership with the Directorate of Youth and Sports and with the support of SOGEDA, continues the educational program for Fine Arts students.

Following an introductory session at Villa Sauber, some of the Apprentice Collectors from François d’Assise – Nicolas Barré travelled to the Venice Biennale to discover the pavilions and other exhibitions. They were accompanied by their teacher Laurent Papillon and NMNM Public Service Manager Benjamin Laugier.

The project brings together art students from the Lycée François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré and  Lycée Albert Ier, and charges them with the responsibility of selecting a set of works relevant to the collections of the museum for the annual exhibition artmonte-carlo. It will be presented to a jury of professionals who will then select a work or a set of works by the same artist which will be integrated in to the NMNM’s collections.

Princess Charlene speaks of life with twins in new interview

by: Cassandra Tanti
26/11/2019

Princess Charlene of Monaco has shared what life is like raising her strong-willed twins in a new interview published recently. The South African born Princess also revealed that her husband, Prince Albert, is a “fun” father who personally takes his kids to school every day.

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In an interview with French magazine Point de Vue, Princess Charlene says that four-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella share a bond of “indescribable affection and gentleness for each other”.

“They talk to each other all the time, and like all children they sometimes can be a little abrupt, a little hard even in their exchanges, but they support each other unconditionally,” she adds.

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First Year School Photos 2019 ??

A post shared by HSH Princess Charlene (@hshprincesscharlene) on

Like many Monaco families, the children speak English at home and French at school. “This leads them to develop their own thinking, their own vision of things,” says Princess Charlene. “As their mother, I discover, I learn. I find it marvellous to follow their evolution, accompanying them on this path.”

She describes her children as having an inner strength which allows them to say what they think and feel, “whatever the circumstances”.

Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella at the inauguration
Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella at the inauguration of One Monte-Carlo in February © Photo: Manuel Vitali/ Direction de la communication et Pierre Villard/SBM

“When it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, and we encourage them to express themselves,” reveals the Princess. “And when all is well, then nothing and no one can stop them.”

Princess Charlene describes an average day in the princely family, beginning with Prince Albert taking the twins to school. “When they come back, my work begins, continuing until the next day. Evenings usually involve a lot of movement. When I’m alone with them, the kids fight over who will sleep with mum. They love to climb into our bed, and suddenly we find ourselves a little cramped. All this without counting our two dogs, Poppy and Harley!”

Princess Charlene says she is amazed at how well her children adapt to all situations and the confidence that they have in themselves. She describes herself as a very hands-on and protective mother, although she admits raising twins is very exhausting. “It is also very stimulating in many areas,” she adds.

The cover of the latest edition of Point de Vue featuring Princess Charlene

Point de Vue is a weekly magazine that specialises in royal news and “exceptional people”. Throughout the years, Princess Charlene has been a strong focus of the French publication, which has covered everything from her early relationship with Prince Albert, to her pregnancy and the birth of the twins.

In this interview, published the day after Monaco’s National Day celebrations, Princess Charlene spoke candidly of the official role her children are increasingly expected to fulfil. “They know that this is a particularly busy time for their parents, but I think they’re still a bit too young to fully understand the meaning,” she says.

Prince Jacques melted hearts across the globe on 19th November when he was presented wearing full military uniform for the first time, with a traditional red, white and blue helmet to complete the look.

Photo: Prince’s Palace

The princess also gave readers an insight into life at the palace, describing her husband Prince Albert as “a remarkable, wonderful, fun father; a dad who listens and encourages his children. He spends a lot of time with Jacques and Gabriella and takes care of them as often as he can.”

While the couple often spend time apart because of their busy schedules, the children, she says, almost always accompany at least one parent on their travels. “They’re being raised everywhere,” she reveals, “but when we’re just four, it doesn’t matter where we are: that place is our home.”

Prince Albert, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella cheering South Africa to victory for the Rugby World Cup in October. Picture: Photo: HSHPrincessCharlene/Instagram

As a former Olympic swimmer, Princess Charlene encourages her children to do as many sports as possible. Not surprisingly, they learnt to swim from a very early age. “We will see, in the next two or three years, how this taste evolves, and which disciplines will have their preference.”

The Princess reflects on the time that she spent with her children in South Africa earlier this year, saying, “I’d dreamed of taking them there for a long time, showing them South Africa, certainly, but also Benoni, the city where I grew up… When we arrived, we were all looking through the porthole and Jacques cried ‘Wow, this is the country where you come from, mummy? It’s so big!’ It was very moving for me.”

Jacques and Gabriella had the opportunity to visit her nephew in school in Benoni, where they “were able to play with their cousins’ classmates, and there was absolutely no barrier between them,” she reveals. “I saw my children confident, happy, and it gave me immense happiness. Then Albert and I took them into the bush to see animals in the wild. The twins were able to see a rhinoceros for the first time.”

“These,” she says, “were moments that will remain within me forever.”

 

Top photo: National Day 2019, photo Prince’s Palace of Monaco

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