Opera: Four chances to catch Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment in Monaco

11/03/2024

The delightful and inventive comic opera La Fille du Régiment is coming to the Opéra de Monte-Carlo later this month with Regula Mühlemann in the title role of an orphaned girl who was raised by an army regiment.

Gaetano Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment – or The Girl of the Regiment in English – was first performed at the Opéra Comique in Paris in February 1840. At the time, it was described as a “barely averted disaster” by the famous composer-critic Hector Berlioz, but proved hugely popular with audiences, who loved the lightness of the plot and its extraordinary musical score.

The two-act performance is based on a libretto by Jules Henry Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard, and was adapted for the stage by composer Donizetti, who made it truly his own.

The story is of Marie, a girl who was found as a baby on a battlefield and raised like a daughter by the men of the 21st Regiment. As she grows up, her foster-father, Sulpice, insists she must marry a soldier from the regiment, but Marie has other ideas; she has fallen in love with a Tyrolean peasant called Tonio and intends to follow her own path.

Now coming to Monaco, this latest rendition will be presented under the direction of Jean-Louis Grinda, with Regula Mühlemann in the role of Marie. Sharing the stage with her will be Javier Camarena as Tonio, who is set to perform the opera’s famous aria that demands that the tenor hits an astounding nine high Cs in one song.

A gala show will be held on 26th March at 8pm, with three additional performances scheduled for 24th March at 3pm, 28th March at 8pm and 30th March, also at 8pm.

For tickets and more information, click here.

Read related:

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

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Photo source: Opéra de Monte-Carlo

Prince Albert II unites hopes with wishing tree activity at PowHer’s opening

by: Niki Borisova

11/03/2024

Prince Albert II and Princess Stéphanie inaugurated Monaco’s new International Women’s Day celebration, PowHer, featuring workshops, discussions, and cultural celebrations dedicated to women’s rights and empowerment.

Monaco marked International Women’s Day on Friday 8th March with the new all-encompassing event at Espace Léo Ferré, inaugurated by Prince Albert II and Princess Stéphanie, and organised by the Committee for Women’s Rights.

Prince Albert II took part in the emotionally-charged wishing tree activity, where guests were encouraged to hang cards adorned with their aspirations for women’s rights on a tree, creating a powerful symbol of communal desire for equality.

The discussions explored women’s leadership in both the public and private sectors, featuring a roundtable with prominent participants such as Françoise Gamerdinger, the Director of Cultural Affairs, Christine Pasquier-Ciulla, National Councillor and President of the Family Rights and Equality Commission, and Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights.

Prince Albert II and Princess Stephanie at the opening ceremony of PowHer, photo credits: Frédéric Nebinger / Palais princier

Another highlight was the speed mentoring session, #GirlBoss, aimed at empowering the Principality’s young women aged 11 to 25. This initiative, spearheaded by the Women Business Leaders of Monaco and SheCanHeCan, offered valuable guidance and advice from a panel of accomplished female leaders, demonstrating the importance of mentorship in achieving professional success.

The event also featured creative and expressive activities, including poetry readings and debates. The improvisation workshop on cyber violence, led by Action Innocence Monaco, addressed the pressing issue of online harassment and its impact on women, illustrating the multifaceted nature of the fight for women’s rights.

Closing the event was a concert by Nalla, accompanied by guitarist Florent Garcia, which provided a fitting end to the day. The International Women’s Day celebration in Monaco highlighted the Principality’s ongoing efforts to address gender equality and empower women across all spheres of life.

Monaco Life is a part of the local community, and we were there. See more in our Instagram below…

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Monegasque sailors claim double victory at 40th Primo Cup

by: Celina Lafuente de Lavotha

11/03/2024

Over the weekend, 400 brave sailors battled against strong winds to compete in the 40th Primo Cup, which was held in the waters off the Principality of Monaco between 7th and 10th March.

This 40th edition of the Primo Cup, an important milestone for the event, was the fourth and final act of the Monaco Sportsboat Winter Series of monthly regattas that runs from November to March every year.

Launched by Prince Albert II of Monaco back in 1985, when he became President of the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), the competition is a major international season-opener and has long attracted big names in the sport.

*Prince Albert and Bernard d’Alessandri unveil the 40th Primo Cup Perpetual Trophy. Photo credit: YCM*

“We have had champions here, sailors from the Vendée Globe, Tour de France à la Voile and the Figaro, not to mention America’s Cup,”says YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri. “And with 4,400 boats, 1,100 starts, 200 days of sailing, 20,500 sailors and 44 classes in the last 40 years, the event has become a reference.”

Before the sailing got underway at the end of last week, Prince Albert was on hand to greet the eager competitors at the opening ceremony and personally unveiled the coveted Buccellati-designed Perpetual Trophy that is engraved with the names of the winners from the last four decades. The winners of this year’s edition may well have been watching on.

A MONEGASQUE PASSION FOR SAILING SHINES THROUGH

In the J/70, YCM member Giangiacomo Serena di Lapigio aboard G-Spot took his second victory in four races, while the Smeralda 888 class was won by the YCM’s Achille Onorato and his crew on Canard à l’Orange.

This Monegasque passion for high-level competition has clearly been passed down from generation to generation, as evidenced by the presence of the YCM’S Sports Section’s 11-year-old Roman Lampert, 14-year-old Ludovica Bonelli, nine-year-old Louis Pompée and 10-year-old Joséphine Dobbelaere at the J/70 event.

“They are used to start lines of 90 Optimists, so they were not phased and stayed calm,” said their coach, Margaux Meslin, who sailed with them on Team Optimist. “I’ve seen them win starts next to the big names or surf downwind, spinnaker up, [with] big smiles on their faces. It was a fantastic experience for them.”

OTHER WINNERS

The Swiss team on Shensu achieved a victory three points ahead of the second-placed German crew on Wetfeet in the Longtze Premier while the Cape 31 was dominated by Give me Five.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT MONACO OCEAN WEEK

The next major event to take place at the YCM will be the 13th Environmental Symposium, which comes under the banner of the Monaco Ocean Week programme. Also being held at the Club during this time will be the Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous and the YCM Explorer Awards – La Belle Classe.

Read related:

Monaco Ocean Week 2024: A quest for viable and achievable solutions

Main photo credit: YCM / Studio Borlenghi

Podcast: Understanding luxury with brand expert Matteo Atti

by: Cassandra Tanti

11/03/2024

In this episode we talk about defining luxury, trends in the industry, who’s got it right, and how to get it wrong.

Matteo Atti is Chief Marketing Officer at Vista, the largest on demand business jet group in the world. Matteo has worked with leading global brands in luxury, fashion and telecommunications including Gucci, Nokia and Bottega Veneta, is a contributor to Forbes magazine and his projects have been featured on the WSJ, Robb Report, NYT, and Business Insider. He is also a professor in Luxury Business Development and a Member of the Academic Board at the International University of Monaco.

In this episode we talk about defining luxury, trends in the industry, who’s got it right, and how to get it wrong.

www.monacolife.net · Understanding luxury with brand and value creator Matteo Atti

Visit our Podcast channel to listen to more: https://on.soundcloud.com/MzPA3

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Three exceptional women to be commemorated on new French coinage

by: Stephanie Horsman

11/03/2024

Three pioneering women are to become the new faces of France’s 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces. Their official debut into circulation isn’t until this summer, but we have a sneak preview of what to expect.

According to the Monnaie de Paris, Josephine Baker, Marie Curie and Simone Veil earned their right to be the faces of the soon-to-be-released new coinage by being “sources of daily inspiration for everyone”, by embodying the values of France and by becoming trailblazers in their own realms.

*The new edition coins will be released during the summer of 2024. Image via Monnaie de Paris*

It was announced on 6th March that, come summer, three new editions of the nation’s 10, 20 and 50 cent coins designed by the Monnaie de Paris’ chief engraver, Joaquin Jimenez, will be launched with these women’s faces and the Sower, a symbol that has appeared on all French-minted coins for 120 years, on one side and the universal European Union design with the denomination and a relief of the continent on the other.

THE WOMEN

The 10 cent coin has been reserved for Simone Veil, the Auschwitz survivor who went on to become the first woman to hold the Presidency of the European Parliament. She also, in a timely twist, was the champion of the 1975 bill that decriminalised abortion in France. The right to abortion was enshrined in the French constitution earlier this month.

See more: France makes abortion a constitutional right

Singer, anti-racism activist and resistance fighter Josephine Baker will feature on the 20 cent piece. American-born Baker was a resident of Monaco in her later years, having befriended Princess Grace. In 2021, she became the first black women to be entered into the French Pantheon. She is buried in the Principality of Monaco.

The 50 cent coin will honour scientist Marie Curie. Curie, who was originally from Poland but became a French citizen, is best known for her contributions to uncover treatments for cancer as well as being the person to discover polonium and radium.

SEE ALSO:

Three important female figures from Monaco honoured at 2024 Women of Commitment Awards

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Image via Monnaie de Paris

Sports round-up: Weekend wins for Monaco’s star football and basketball teams

by: Stephanie Horsman

11/03/2024

Both of Monaco’s mainstream sports teams were away from the Principality over the weekend, with AS Monaco in the Grand Est to face off with RC Strasbourg and the Roca Team on court up north against BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque.

Under the watchful eyes of nearly 400 Monaco fans and the team’s president, Dmitry Rybolovlev, AS Monaco, who are currently in third place in France’s Ligue 1 standings, had pinned their hopes on continuing their march up the rankings, but the game against RC Strasbourg on 10th March proved challenging.

Though several opportunities to score presented themselves, there wasn’t a single conversion from either side during the entire first half of play. The second half wasn’t looking promising either until 73 minutes in when Maghnes Akliouche set up Eliesse Ben Seghir for a beautiful corner kick into the goal. It was the only one of the game.

“I saw Maghnes on the overlap, and it’s true that we have a lot of good connections, we feel quite good together,” said Ben Seghir, who was voted Man of the Match by AS Monaco fans. “In that moment, I knew where to position myself so that he could give me the ball. I looked, he passed [it to] me and I just had to finish!”

AS Monaco’s next game will be a home turf affair at the Stade Louis II on 17th March.

*Dream team: Maghnes Akliouche and Man of the Match Eliesse Ben Seghir. Photo credit: AS Monaco*

Close call for AS Monaco Basket

That same day saw the Roca Team take on BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque at the Stade des Flandres.

The side was down three key players, with Terry Tarpey, Petr Cornelie and Jordan Loyd all absent, but despite this handicap, the Rouges et Blancs took to the court with energy and determination.

The first quarter went reasonably well for the Roca Team, who came out ahead in the scoring, but they faltered in the second quarter, scoring only eight points against their opponents’ 22 and went into the locker room with an eight-point deficit.

But they came back out swinging and regained the lead with a brilliant third quarter showing and a solid fourth quarter. In the end – though far too close for comfort – the Roca Team squeaked out a win to beat the French side 68-72.

“We scared ourselves, but in the French championship, all the matches are difficult,” said Donatas Motiejunas. “Gravelines has good players and supportive fans. We had the necessary resources to be better in the second half and win. I’m happy with my guys.”

Alpha Diallo and John Brown III tied for the highest scores with 13 points apiece, and there were decent showings from Matthew Strazel and Mike James too, who each scored eight.

The next game will be a EuroLeague away fixture against Alba Berlin on 14th March.

SEE ALSO:

Roca Team’s Mike James crowned best scorer in Euroleague history

Photo credit: AS Monaco

Day: 11 March 2024

Opera: Four chances to catch Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment in Monaco

Prince Albert II unites hopes with wishing tree activity at PowHer’s opening