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Month: December 2020

Grimaldi Forum inaugurates new terrace

by: Stephanie Horsman
03/12/2020

Monaco’s main congress and culture centre, the Grimaldi Forum, has inaugurated its new Ravel Terrace, giving extra room to visitors in a beautiful open air setting and sea views that can’t be beat.

The Ravel Terrace, Grimaldi Forum’s latest addition, was officially opened on Tuesday 1st December, adding 600m2 of space to the convention centre and giving clients an outdoor venue option for upcoming events.

Prince Albert II was on hand for the event. He was joined by Pierre Dartout, Minister of State, and various authorities, as well as Patrice Pastor, representing the new Mareterra extension project.

This single level platform has direct access to the adjoining 4,000 m2 Espace Ravel exhibition hall, as well as access via an external staircase from the 590m2 Le Genois space located on the second level of the complex.

With magnificent sea views and access to the promenade that runs along it, the terrace can accommodate up to 800 mingling guests. The Grimaldi Forum says it can be used as a dedicated lounge for cocktail or networking events, as well as an extension for overflow guests from the indoor halls.

“It seems to have always existed as it has found its place naturally,” said Sylvie Biancheri, Managing Director of the Grimaldi Forum. “It is a very beautiful present for our 20th birthday, its assets are multiple and offer us great prospects.”

Architect Frédéric Genin one of two of the original architects of the Grimaldi Forum, took special care to ensure the look of the new terrace was in keeping with the existing building. The project was completed using eco-labelled wood to meet environmental standards in the Principality as well as to comply with their own objective of limiting environmental impact.

 

It's all happening at the Opera

by: Stephanie Horsman
03/12/2020

It’s a weekend of fantastic musical choices as the Opera de Monte-Carlo is set to host Verdi’s I Due Foscari with legendary tenor Placido Domingo and broadcast a concert marking the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival’s 15th year.

Music will be everywhere in Monaco this weekend, starting on Saturday 5th December with L’Opera de Monte-Carlo performing Verdi’s I Due Foscari featuring Placido Domingo. The celebrated tenor first sang in Monaco 40 years ago and will be stopping in Monaco as part of his triumphant European tour.

Grammy Award-winning Domingo, who has played over 150 roles and performed 4,000 times on stage, will be joined on stage by fellow tenor Francesco Meli, who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival and the Vienna Opera. Also on stage will be soprano Anna Pirozzi, applauded in Salzburg and the Verona Arena, and who sang I Due Foscari at La Scala in Milan.

After the excitement of the opera, Sunday will bring another wonderful musical event. The Monte Carlo Jazz Festival, which was cancelled last month due to the pandemic, will be part of a televised broadcast featuring 13 of the most talented French jazz musicians on the scene today.

The broadcast, a co-production by Mezzo, Monaco Info and Culturebox, will be at the Opera Garnier and will include performances by Thomas Dutronc, Robin McKelle, Hugh Coltman, Célia Kameni, Sly Johnson, Charles Pasi, Sophie Alour, Airelle Besson, Anne Paceo, Manu Katché, Thomas Bramerie and Rocky Gresset who will share the stage of the Opéra Garnier under the musical direction of Eric Légnini.

The concert is by private by invitation only starting at 5pm on Sunday, but for those who cannot attend, they can enjoy the music from the comfort of home.

 

Photo credit: SBM Monte Carlo

 

 

New construction ideas for Monte-Carlo

by: Stephanie Horsman
03/12/2020

The Municipal Council is considering plans to replace old buildings to the west of the Monte-Carlo district with more modern facades, replete with covered gardens at street level.

On Tuesday evening, a public session of the Mairie de Monaco was held where town planning was at the top of the agenda, notably in the iconic Monte-Carlo district. The area has seen a huge amount of change with the revamping of the Casino Square as well as with many buildings bordering it.

Now, there is a proposal on the table to pull out the wrecking ball in the areas west of the Casino, known locally as Les Fleurs and L’Hermitage.

The historic area has seen quite a number of contemporary buildings going up in recent years, notably One Monte-Carlo, the revamped Hôtel de Paris, la Petite Afrique and 26 Carré Or. Now the town planners are pushing for more modern edifices to replace ones that have lost their lustre.

In the meeting, Councillor François Lallemand made note of the “major divide” between the new or renovated buildings and the older ones, whose best days have passed. He specifically cited the shops and apartments of the Palais Saint-James, Avenue Princesse Alice and three buildings on Avenida de la Costa as being in the crosshairs for renovation.

New construction will not necessarily come at the price of losing heritage, however. The council agreed that some aspects must be preserved whilst renewing public spaces, and voted unanimously in favour of opening up the idea of the proposal.

There would be a focus on “vertical town planning with buildings built on a system of pilings making it possible to limit the footprint of the buildings for the start of an urban park.”

Such urban parks would be lined with tower blocks on stilts fifteen or so metres high to both optimise outdoor space as well as create modern structures. This would allow for street level gardens with low-light loving flora.

“These gardens would extend the already existing gardens and this reflection of an urban park and plants entering the heart of the islet could be extended,” said Lallemand, “in a second step, to the restructuring of the Palais de la Scala and to the future of the former local from the post office.”

The officials have decided, but the proposal has yet to be put forth to residents and owners. Whether or not they will be enthusiastic is yet to be seen.

 
Photo by Cassandra Tanti for Monaco Life, all rights reserved
 
 

Riviera airport picks up pace

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/12/2020

Nice Airport has announced a complete reopening of Terminal 2 this month in an effort to get holiday travellers safely where they need to be.

Nice Côte d’Azur airport fully reopened Terminal 2 on 1st December with a full roster of both international and domestic flights.

The airport now serves 55 destinations in 24 countries with 583 flights per week.

Amongst the 29 airlines operating out the airport, Air France and easyJet both have several destinations available for passengers.

EasyJet serves 41 routes from Nice including Paris, Lille, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse domestically, and a host of international destinations such as Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Lisbon, Geneva, and London, to name but a few.

Air France will be flying several domestic flights to French cities such as Caen, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Paris, Rennes and Strasbourg several times daily.

Before flying, passengers are reminded that health regulations are still in effect and that masks are obligatory and social distancing is in effect at all times whilst in the terminal and on the planes.

For destinations that require negative Covid tests upon arrival, the airport is offering antigen testing at the airport. The testing room is available to all passengers from four hours up to 90 minutes before flying and is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm. The tests are valid for 72 hours, fulfilling the requirement for most destinations.

 
Photo credit: Aeroports de la Côte d’Azur
 
 

Holiday celebrations in full-swing

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/12/2020

The Monaco Town Hall has organised a number of “Covid safe” events to ensure a merry and bright Christmas for all this festive season. 

Despite the current restrictions due to the health situation, the spirit of Christmas will be on full display this year in the Principality, though not in the usual way.

Since 20th November, residents and visitors have been able to enjoy the seasonal lights that illuminate each district after nightfall, giving a cheerful air to the chilly nights.

In addition, the esplanade of Quai Albert I is set to celebrate the magic of Christmas with nearly 250 fir trees and four attractions. There will be a carousel, duck pond fishing, a ride in the shape of a tree and another named the Caribou Ride-Santa’s Sleigh. The fun fair area will be open from 10am to 7:30pm from Friday 4th December to Sunday 3rd January.

The ice rink – a Monegasque winter staple – will also be open on 4th December at the Rainier III Nautical Stadium. With 1,000m2 of space, the ice rink takes five weeks to set up, but it is always worth the effort. Last year 28,674 skaters enjoyed the rink.

This year, the rules will be a little different, given the need to adapt to the health protocols, but fun can still be had. The rink can accommodate 200 people at a time and traffic must flow in a certain way as established by ground markers. Mask wearing is obligatory, and lockers and public areas will be disinfected regularly.

The rink will also host model-making mornings from 8am to 12pm on Sunday 13th December, 10th January, 24th January, 17th February and 21st February. It will also be the site of the Monaco skating championship on 6th March 2021.

For the smallest skaters, a 60m2 structure is being erected just for them. The ice rink will be open until 7th March 2021.

Princess Antoinette Park is also decked out in the spirit of the season for the first time. Christmas lights will be up until Thursday 3rd January and include a light trail and illuminated scenes, which can be enjoyed every day from 4pm until the park closes at 6pm.

New for this year, the Monaco Media Library is setting up workshops at the Metropole on the first three Wednesdays of December from 2pm to 6pm. The 2nd will feature a Christmas card workshop, the 9th is the Christmas Ball, and Christmas stockings feature on the 16th. The workshops are free, but space is limited so reservations are required. These can be made by emailing contact@metropoleshoppingmontecarlo.com or calling +377 92 16 77 01.

Happy holidays!

 

 

"It was like looking for a needle in a haystack"

by: Stephanie Horsman
02/12/2020

Boris Herrmann, captain of the Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco, aided in the rescue effort to find fellow sailor Kevin Escoffier after he was forced to abandon ship off the Cape of Good Hope.
No one said the Vendee Global would be easy, but for French sailor Kevin Escoffier it became downright impossible. Whilst sailing his yacht the PRB off the notoriously treacherous Cape of Good Hope some 840 nautical miles off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, Escoffier’s boat “folded in half” in swells reaching five metres in height.
The Frenchman was forced to abandon ship in a 35 knot gale and retreat to a rescue raft, after he promptly put out a call for help. Four competitors, including Boris Herrmann of Monaco’s Team Malizia, joined in the after-dark search for the missing captain.
Eventually, it was fellow competitor Jean Le Cam on the Yes We Cam who spotted and picked up Escoffier “safe and sound” at around 5:15pm European Central Time on 30th November.
Escoffier was in third place when he launched his distress signal.
During a radio session on Tuesday after the rescue, Boris Herrmann explained how the dramatic operation unfolded.
“I was very focused on my task and had a search sector that I had to search very closely – with 600 metres between passages. One passage took me an hour. So, it would have taken 15 to 20 hours to search the entire search field that was assigned to me. At this moment, of course, one realises how large the search field is and that one is looking for a needle in a haystack. I was very motivated and looked in all the right places as best I could.
“It was extremely cold with high swell and spray coming over the deck. But it was great to see that the regatta management diverted all the boats that were available nearby and that we were able to search together with a fleet. So, we gave luck every chance and luck finally led to Kevin being found. This is a great relief and now the tension is dropping. Of course, there is also a certain sadness and the thoughts are with him. I am already back to my normal race, but I am not yet back to where the race is with my head.”
Yacht Club of Monaco Vice-President and Herrmann’s fellow crewmate Pierre Casiraghi, who waited expectantly for news on his friend, was relieved at the outcome.
“It can all happen so quickly in these kinds of sea and wind conditions. It was a very delicate operation,” he said. “My main concern was to tell Boris to be extra careful in such an extreme situation. Above all it was important not to add to the crisis by creating a second one. What a relief to know that Kevin is now safe, and I salute Jean’s courage and experience which made this rescue possible”.
Race Direction, who launched the rescue mission, must now figure out how best to get Escoffier back to shore, as well as sort out how to manage the loss of racing time for those who were diverted.
 
Photo source: Boris Herrmann racing Facebook page