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Day: 6 March 2024

Actor John Malkovich to join Cecilia Bartoli on stage in Monaco this April

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/03/2024
john malkovich

The legendary actor John Malkovich is set to join Cecilia Bartoli, the director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, on stage for a world premiere performance of Their Master’s Voice this coming April. 

The show, which will be taking place on 7th April within the context of the three-week-long Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo festival, is a blending of the talents of these two world-famous icons in their respective genres. 

BACKSTORY 

The plot of the collaborative piece centres on the famed Baroque-era composer and voice teacher Nicola Porpora and his equally celebrated castrati students, Caffarelli and Farinelli.

Opera has never shied away from gender bending, and the castrati were the embodiment of this. Castrated as young boys, before reaching puberty, these male singers retained their boyish looks and ability to sing higher-than-usual notes into adulthood. The practice was finally banned in the early 20th century, but it was common to find castrati on stages across Europe in the prior ages. 

Their Master’s Voice is an exploration of the relationship between two of the 18th century’s greatest castrato singers and their teacher, whose efforts catapulted them to stardom.  

MALKOVICH AND BARTOLI 

Fusing acting with singing, the production gives both John Malkovich and Cecilia Bartoli room to shine – and do what they do best.  

See more: Interview: Cecilia Bartoli on taking the Opéra de Monte-Carlo to new heights

Malkovich has spoken of his enthusiasm for this type of production, saying, “To work with musicians and singers is a fascinating challenge I have been taking more and more during the last 15 years and the experience is still amazing and gratifying. As an actor you have to be aware that music will always be stronger than anything you can do on a stage. You could rather walk through a brick wall than play against music, so I love to play around it.” 

Tickets to the performance are almost fully sold-out, so don’t wait any longer to reserve your seat. The last tickets can be found here.  

Read related:

Printemps des Arts 2024: what to expect from the opening days of the festival

 

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Photo source: Facebook. This article was originally published on 7th March. 

School holidays in Monaco: Exploring the Jardin Exotique’s Centre Botanique

by: Elsa Carpenter
06/03/2024

Although the Jardin Exotique remains closed to the public for the time being, the Centre Botanique can be visited and makes for a great day out during the school holidays. 

After the Jardin Exotique was opened in 1933, the Centre Botanique followed in the 1960s. It was moved to a new site in 2017 and is now a stunning glass and wrought iron structure designed by architects Fabrice Notari and Rudy Ricciotti that houses more than 10,000 different species of cacti and succulents.  

Spread throughout the 900m2 of greenhouse is a variety of plants from around the world – Mexico, Central and South America, the Arabian Peninsular, South and West Africa amongst others – that need a little more protection than those that thrive outside in the main garden space. As such, the Centre Botanique is a haven for those who appreciate the exotic and the unusual. Some 85% of the plants grown here are protected species! 

The Centre Botanique’s mission is the conservation of “a reference collection of cacti and other succulent plants” and the specialist team of seven staff work all year round to take cuttings and propagate their wards, many of which go on to find a home in the main Jardin Exotique zone or are exhibited at shows.

It is free to visit the greenhouses of the Centre Botanique, which is open from 8.30am to 3.30pm from Tuesday through to Saturday. The last entry time is 3pm. 

Due to ongoing works in the area, access is currently via Level 2 on the stairs between the Engelin building and the Centre Botanique.

Click here for more information on the Centre Botanique and here for more ideas on what to do in Monaco during the school holidays.

 

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Photo source: Mairie de Monaco, Facebook

Man who caused fatal motorway accident in La Turbie cleared of drug use

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/03/2024

Toxicology tests on the motorist who hit and killed a Vinci Autoroutes worker on Sunday were reportedly negative.

According to France 3 Côte d’Azur, the motorist who caused the fatal accident on the A8 motorway near La Turbie on Sunday was not under the influence of narcotics. The Nice prosecutor’s office confirmed the information to the local television media on Tuesday 5th March.

The driver has, however, had his custody extended as police continue their investigation into Sunday’s tragic accident. The driver is facing possible charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary injury.

How the tragedy unfolded

On Sunday 3rd March, just after 12.30pm, two patrol officers from Vinci Autoroutes, two police officers and a tow-truck driver responded to a minor incident on the A8 motorway near the La Turbie toll, direction Nice. As the car was being moved and the area secured, a car ploughed into the scene, presumably at a high speed that was inappropriate for the extreme weather conditions of the day.

Tony Nellec, aged 54, was killed instantly. The four others were injured.

The victim’s employer, Vinci Autoroutes, has filed a complaint for homicide, saying in a public statement that images from the scene are “evidence of very excessive speed and dangerous driving on the part of the driver of the crazy car”.

An investigation was opened for “manslaughter by deliberate breach of a duty of safety or prudence” and “unintentional injuries”.

In 2023, 52 Vinci vehicles were hit by third parties. This represents an average of one accident per week.

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See also: 

Toll price hikes on the A8 are among the highest in France

Photo credit: Khamkéo Vilaysing on Unsplash