15 ° C
Profile

Month: June 2023

Monaco to celebrate its historical heritage with the Rencontres Grimaldi 

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/06/2023
Rencontres Grimaldi 

Former “fiefs” of Monaco are being invited to the Principality for two days of lively celebrations that will commemorate the historical and cultural connections these towns and villages share with the Monegasque nation.    

The occasion, which will take place on 10th and 11th June, is the fourth such Rencontre des Sites Historiques Grimaldi de Monaco event to be hosted in recent years.

The concept is to celebrate and commemorate the links between the people of the Principality and residents of places that have had traditional links to the Grimaldi family.  

This year’s guests of honour are delegations from the communes of: Issenheim, Altkirch-Thann, Ferrette and Feldbach from the Haut-Rhin; Duras from Lot-et-Garonne; Prats-de-Mollo from the Pyrénées-Orientales; and Lucciana from Haute-Corse. Local municipalities, such as Grasse and Île Saint-Honorat, are also expected to attend.  

CONVIVIALITY REIGNS 

Over the two days, guests will be immersed in their shared cultural heritages and learn about their collective pasts, exchange ideas and foster new friendships.  

Some of the activities taking place include culinary tastings, folk dance displays, horse shows, art and trade discoveries, and even a few more medieval offerings such as jousting and the witnessing of falconry-style demonstrations involving birds of prey.  

A PACKED SCHEDULE 

The event begins at 9am on 10th June with the opening of the “village” of the gathered sites up on the Rock. At 11am, Prince Albert II will present commemorative medallions to the invited mayors of each municipality then all will witness the Grand Changing of the Guard at the Palais Princier de Monaco, before being treated to shows and entertainments throughout the day. The day will wrap up with a concert starting at 8.40pm and featuring the Orchestra of the Prince’s Carabinieri and the Altkirch Hussar Cavalry Band, followed by a light and sound show projected on the walls of the palace.  

The next day, 11th June, will be a continuation of the first , with spectacles and fun planned throughout the day. At 7pm, all participants will join in with a farandole, the lively Provençal dance in which men and women hold hands, form a chain, and follow a leader through a serpentine course, concluding the celebrations.  

The public is welcome to join in and entry to the event is free. For more information and a full schedule, click here. 

  

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

 

Photo source: Rencontre des Sites Historiques Grimaldi de Monaco / Facebook

Save the date: Monaco Art Week and artmonte-carlo, two exciting events to coincide this July

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/06/2023

With less than a month to go until Monaco’s biggest month of art, the organisers of Monaco Art Week and artmonte-carlo have come together to promote the Principality’s fast-growing and vibrant art scene.

It was in Monaco’s largest and most important cultural centre, the Grimaldi Forum, that leaders in Monaco’s art scene came together on Thursday 1st June.

They were there to promote what they have helped to forge into Monaco’s biggest month of art, showcasing local galleries and international works to the local community and beyond.

“The idea behind Monaco Art Week is to collaborate together and to promote Monaco as an art destination, and of course we have to be In Sync with artmonte-carlo, we share clients and it’s for the good of the Principality,” Louise Grether, President of Monaco Art Week and head of Sotheby’s told Monaco Life. “Monaco has always been a pull for the international clientele, but more and more people are saying that it is a wonderful place to be at the beginning of July.”

In addition to the much-anticipated Claude Monet retrospective, Monet in Full Light, at the Grimaldi Forum, a rare monographic exhibition by George Condo and a show featuring the work of Mauro Restiffe at the New National Museum of Monaco, and the Ballets de Monte-Carlo’s F(ê)aites de la danse performances, there will be two big art events coming up in July.

From left to right: Fabrizio Moretti (Moretti Fine Art, Vice-President Monaco Art Week), Louise Gréther (Sotheby’s Monaco, President Monaco Art Week), Thomas Hug (Director artmonte-carlo), Safia El Malqui (Ambassador artmonte-carlo), Federica Beretta (Hauser & Wirth Monaco) and Augustin Nounckele (Galerie Retelet)

MONACO ART WEEK

Now in its 5th edition, Monaco Art Week will return with its fantastic walking tour of local galleries in the Larvotto and Monte-Carlo neighbourhoods featuring varied programmes of modern and contemporary art as well as fine jewellery.

There will be 16 participating galleries: Artcurial, Boghossian, Christie’s, G&M Design, Hauser & Wirth, Kamil Art Gallery, M.-F. Toninelli Art Moderne, Opera Gallery, Galerie Adriano Ribolzi, Sotheby’s, Teos Gallery Monte-Carlo, Wannenes Art Contact, and Ward Moretti at Moretti Fine Art.

New to the schedule this year are HOFA, Lebreton, and Elisabeth Lillo-Renner.

Along with the art shows, galleries and auction houses will host round tables and professional meet and greets for connoisseurs looking for just the right pieces.

Monaco Art Week runs from 4th to 9th July under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, and is supported by the Monaco Department of Cultural Affairs. Access to the locations is free of charge. For more, follow them on https://www.monaco-artweek.com/

ARTMONTE-CARLO

The 7th edition of artmonte-carlo will bring paintings, sculptures and digital designs from several prestigious galleries together under one roof at the Grimaldi Forum, as well as viewings of incredible outdoor sculptures on the Grimaldi Forum’s Esplanade, and a special contemporary art show on a superyacht.

A grand total of 35 galleries have signed on, including 193 Gallery,  Air from Paris, Almine Research, bastien, Welcome Steinberg & J, Christine Konig, Cortesi, Esther Schipper, Eva Meyer, Franco Noero, Hauser & Wirth, HDM, Hoffmann Maler Wallenberg, Laurent Godin, LGDR, Lito Editions, Magnin-A, Marlborough, Mennour, Nathalie Obadiah, Opera, perrotin, Pietro Sparta, Poggiali, Retelet, Richard Saltoun, Robilant+Voena, Sebastien Bertrand, Van de Weghe, Vedovi, Ward Moretti, White Cube, wizard, and Xippas.

Partner events coinciding with this new edition include a large-scale retrospective devoted to Claude Monet at the Grimaldi Forum, as well as a rare monographic exhibition by George Condo and an exhibition of the work of Mauro Restiffe at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco.

The artmonte-carlo – F.P.Journe prize will be awarded to the best gallery presentation at the exhibition. One of the works on the winning stand will be donated to a local institution. The prize will be awarded by a prestigious institutional jury.

The event will be held on 8th July from 2pm to 7pm and 9th July from 2pm to 8pm. Tickets are €20 for adults, €12 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.artmontecarlo.ch

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

SEE ALSO:

Interview: Photographer Vanessa von Zitzewitz on her new exhibition ‘Michael, Intimacy Behind Speed’

 

Photo of artmonte-carlo at the Grimaldi Forum, credit: Fabien Prauss

 

 

Basketball: Monaco into the Betclic Elite final

by: Luke Entwistle
04/06/2023
Mike James: AS Monaco Basket v Bourg-en-Bresse

AS Monaco Basketball booked their place in the Betclic Elite final for the second consecutive season, beating Bourg-en-Bresse (71-85) on Saturday to wrap the series up 3-0.

The Roca Team have thus far made light work of the play-offs. They beat Strasbourg 2-0 in the quarter-finals, and despite a scare at the Salle Gaston Médecin on Wednesday night, they weren’t beaten by Bourg-en-Bresse during this five-game series.

Despite Wednesday’s victory, Sasa Obradovic was unimpressed by his side’s display and was looking for a reaction in Bourg-en-Bresse. He got it. Mike James (12 points, nine assists) was back to his creative best, and Donatas Motiejunas (22 points) was unstoppable inside the paint.

Obradovic was also looking forward to welcoming back Jordan Loyd (12 points, five rebounds), who in the words of Obradovic, “provides stability.” He was important in many phases of play, whilst Alpha Diallo (three points, nine rebounds) was indispensable.

Boulogne-Levallois await

Monaco were rarely threatened, although their indiscipline allowed Bourg-en-Bresse a steady flow of points. However, Moanco’s defence was tighter, their attack more fluid and their victory deserved (71-85).

“We respected this Bourg team that gave everything and had a great regular season. The objective now is clear: win this final and bring the Betclic Elite title to Monaco. That’s all we care about,” said Loyd post-match.

There won’t be a repeat of last year’s final as Boulogne-Levallois defeated Lyon-Villeurbanne 3-1. The first match of the series will take place in Monaco on June 10th.

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo by AS Monaco Basket

Formula 1: Dominant Max Verstappen secures fifth victory of the season in Spain, Charles Leclerc outside the points

by: Luke Entwistle
04/06/2023
Charles Leclerc at the Spanish Grand Prix

Max Verstappen and Red Bull continued their scintillating form at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, whilst Ferrari struggled to match the pace of the frontrunners. 

Saturday’s qualifying threw up a few surprises, unpleasant surprises for Charles Leclerc fans. The Monégasque struggled on a rapidly evolving Catalunya Circuit and was knocked out in the first round of qualifying since the Monaco Grand Prix in 2019. The issues didn’t stop there for Leclerc, as Ferrari made the decision to change components of his car, resulting in him starting from the pitlane.

George Russell and Sergio Perez also struggled for pace and both failed to make it into Q3 as Max Verstappen took pole ahead of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris.

Mercedes refind form in Spain

Verstappen, despite coming under considerable pressure from home favourite Sainz at turn one, held first position and wasn’t troubled from then onwards. He led a flawless race to the chequered flag. The only threat was the dark clouds that loomed over the circuit throughout but did not produce any rain, unlike in last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

There was more movement and excitement further back the field. Norris couldn’t convert his qualifying performance, colliding with Lewis Hamilton at turn one and being forced to pit for a new front wing.

Hamilton came out of that incident unscathed and showed good pace, overtaking Sainz after the first round of pitstops on his way to a second-place finish.

From 12th on the grid, Russell slalomed his way through the field to a place on the podium, ahead of Perez, who fought his way into fourth. The upgrades brought to the Mercedes have propelled them up the grid, and in Spain, they were uncontestably the second quickest car.

“We have incredible inconsistency.”

However, it is a more sombre story for Ferrari, who struggled for pace. Sainz, who started second on the grid, could only finish fifth in the race. Leclerc, who began from the back of the grid, endured a difficult race, and despite fighting his way to 11th, finished the weekend without adding to his points tally.

As has been the case in recent races, Leclerc was once again left bemoaning the inconsistent performance of his Ferrari. “We have incredible inconsistency. We put two sets of the same compound obtaining opposite behaviours. With the first hard we were nowhere, with the second we did well. [It’s] a problem we’ve had for a long time,” he said.

There is a fortnight until the next race of the season, which will take place in Canada. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to match the pace of the Red Bulls, who have now won all seven of this year’s races.

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo from Scuderia Ferrari Press Office

Football: European football slips through Monaco’s fingers

by: Luke Entwistle
04/06/2023
Breel Embolo: AS Monaco v Toulouse

AS Monaco let qualification for European football slip through their fingers against FC Toulouse (1-2) on Saturday on a night of frustration and regret at the Stade Louis II.

Heading into the final game of the season, Monaco’s destiny was no longer in their own hands, following four defeats in their last six matches. However, both Rennes and Lille, both of whom needed results to secure their own European qualifications, were struggling against inferior opposition. Lille couldn’t get the job done against Troyes, meaning a victory for Les Monégasques would have secured Europa Conference League football for next season.

However, despite the high stakes, Monaco were passive in the first half, circulating the ball without many ideas of what to do with it. Alexander Nübel, who is showing his finest patch of form right at the end of his two-year loan from Bayern Munich, was forced into a smart double save.

Wissam Ben Yedder went close at the other end and would have got his name on the scoresheet against his former club if not for the outstretched foot of Maxime Dupé.

Within inches of Europe

As the game progressed, Monaco became more desperate and threw more men forward. Naturally, that left space to exploit at the back, and exploit it Toulouse did. Zakaria Aboukhlal poked in after a goalmouth scramble to give Toulouse a surprise lead.

However, Monaco hit back just seven minutes later, Ben Yedder wasn’t to be denied this time as he poked in from close-range. Les Monégasques had just over 10 minutes to find a winner and almost found it on multiple occasions.

Maghnes Akliouche hit both posts within the space of three minutes before Edan Diop curled just wide from an unmarked position inside the box in injury time. However, Monaco wouldn’t even salvage a point, as worthless as that would have been.

Rhys Healey, who has missed the whole season with an ACL injury, made a dream return, providing the sucker-punch deep in injury time to secure the three points (1-2) and inflict Monégasque misery.

Departures, but how many?

Monaco end the season in sixth place in Ligue 1, finishing on a run of three straight defeats and with just one win in their last seven games. “Certainly, the defeat against Lens (22/04/23) was a key moment. We have sunk in the weeks since,” analysed Philippe Clement. 

The disappointment precedes what is expected to be a big summer of change on Le Rocher. Thiago Scuro is expected to be confirmed as the new Sporting Director, replacing Paul Mitchell, soon. There is also the question of the managerial role, which after the recent run of form, is under threat; Clement is aware of that.

“It is the management’s choice [if I stay]. I am not someone who escapes responsibility. I always look at myself in the mirror. I always want to improve. I have a heart for this club. I want to fight for the club, but it’s up to the management to decide that. That’s the world of football. Before Lens, we spoke about extending, and everyone was happy. Now we’re all disappointed, me first and foremost. We will see,” said Clement.

As the Belgian coach told Monaco Life, many players are expected to leave. “I think it’s the end of a cycle. There are players that would like to leave. That needs to be in the conditions that suit the club,” he said. 

The Belgian coach confirmed that pre-season will begin on 3rd July. Who will be involved in that session only time will tell. A turbulent summer lies ahead.

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo by AS Monaco

Monaco mourns the death of Albert Croesi

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/06/2023

Prince Albert has paid tribute to long-running member of his government Albert Croesi, who passed away suddenly on Friday night, commending his “unfailing devotion to the Principality of Monaco”.

Albert Croesi suffered a fatal heart attack at his home on Friday 3rd June. The Monegasque native worked in various roles for the Prince’s Government, most recently being appointed the Interministerial Councillor in charge of the quality of life and relations in 2019.

He was also the Secretary of the Prince Rainier III Commemoration Committee, coordinating and orchestrating the organisation of the tribute events, under the direction of Princess Stéphanie.

The Palace released the following statement:

“It is with great sadness that H.S.H. Prince Albert II has learned of the sudden death of Mr. Albert Croesi, which occurred in his sixty-second year. Commitment, energy, sense of duty and general interest, his unfailing devotion to the Principality of Monaco and the Princely Family, these were the qualities that animated Albert Croesi’s work throughout his life. The Sovereign Prince and His Family unite to send their most sincere condolences to Paul his son, as well as to Pierine his mother and all of his family and loved ones.”

Minister of State Pierre Dartout has also relayed his condolences, saying in a statement:

“It is with great sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of Albert Croesi. On behalf of the Prince’s Government, I would like to express my most sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. We already miss his generosity, his benevolence and the energy with which he undertook all the projects entrusted to him.”

 

Sign up for the Monaco Life newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  

 

Photo source: Prince’s Government