As part of the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival and Fight Aids Monaco’s 20th anniversary celebrations, Stars 80 will be stopping off in the Principality for a very eighties evening in July. Here are all the details.
On 6th July at the illustrious Salle des Étoiles, the cast from Stars 80’s latest tour, Encore!, will be the headline act at a 1980s-themed dinner show benefitting Fight Aids Monaco.
The group takes its inspiration from the cult French movie of the same name that tells the story of two diehard fans of 1980s music who run a struggling lookalikes company. On the eve of filing for bankruptcy, they discover a box of tapes featuring forgotten stars of the era and go on a mission to bring them back to the stage.
The musical adaptation of the film has proved very popular with fans across France, having been watched by more than 4.5 million theatre goers, and now the production is coming to Monaco.
Ticket prices start at €260 and the event will be raising money for Princess Stéphanie’s Fight Aids Monaco charity, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024.
The doors will open at 8pm, with the concert slated to begin at 10.30pm. Valet parking will be available and the event is suitable for ages seven and up.
The Cagliari-Monaco regatta, a 360-nautical mile race from the Sardinian capital to the Principality’s Port Hercule via the island of Corsica, will be back next month for a much-awaited second edition.
The inaugural Cagliari-Monaco event was held back in spring 2023 and was a collaborative affair that drew on the local expertise of the Lega Navale Italiana of Cagliari, the Yacht Club in Porto Rotondo and the Yacht Club de Monaco.
Although the race was dominated by sailors linked to the Yacht Club de Monaco – member Adalberto Miani’s Botta Dritta crossed the finish line in first place with a time of two days, 16 hours, 50 minutes and 46 seconds – the overall event was celebrated as a demonstration of the authentic “bond between Sardinia and the Principality”.
Given the success of last year’s race, which was in part a celebration of the Yacht Club de Monaco’s 70th anniversary, it will come as no surprise to fans of sailing that the regatta will be revived again in 2024.
Scheduled to take place between 20th and 24th April, the fleet of yachts will depart Cagliari at noon and head toward Villasimius and Sardinia’s eastern coast. An intermediate natural gate off the island of Soffi will record the first times of the race, and then it will be free sailing in the open sea from this point on. To complete the regatta, the competing sailors must arrive in Monegasque waters by 4pm on 24th April.
BEFORE THE RACE
The days prior to the race will see crews from all over Europe converging on the seaside city of Cagliari as it plays host to a range of events intended to promote the culture of the sea, navigation skills and the links between the maritime communities of Sardinia and Monaco.
In just a few weeks, a new exhibition will open at the Musée Océanographique de Monaco that blends sculptural artistry with a powerful message on the vulnerability of the polar regions. Here’s everything you need to know about Michel Bassompierre’s ‘The Giants of Ice’.
From 10th April until 6th October, Michel Bassompierre will be showcasing his unique style of sculpture at the Musée Océanographique in a bid to help raise awareness of the critical challenges facing the world’s polar regions.
Bassompierre’s goal is to capture the true spirit of his subjects – in this case, polar bears and a three-metre-high Emperor penguin – with the hopes of inspiring a deeper bond with nature in his audience.
“The duty of artists is perhaps to share our sense of beauty, to create wonder,” he says. “This reconnection to the beauty of nature is necessary to foster a desire to protect it.”
Featuring seven works, including five new creations designed specifically for this event, ‘The Giants of Ice’ exhibition will be spread throughout the museum and on its rooftop terrace. The sculptures will be complemented by original drawings and sketches as well as a continuous film presentation offering a glimpse into the artist’s creative process.
“By sparking wonder, these fragile giants question and challenge the visitor on the extreme vulnerability of these species,” says Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute. “These works confront the public with the current challenges of biodiversity protection.”
The latest Business Environment Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the research and analysis division of The Economist Group that includes the London-based The Economist newspaper, has combined data from nearly 100 indicators to create a global overview of the top global business hubs to invest in over the next five years.
According to the statisticians at the EIU, “There is a statistically significant positive correlation between changes in our Business Environment Index score and growth in real GDP per head, which strips out population changes, with the change in the economy becoming visible one year after the change in the index.”
Essentially, the scores of the index should provide companies and investors with strong hints at the future of a nation’s economy, whether positive or negative.
“Knowing in advance where economic growth is about to accelerate can be the difference between investor success and failure,” continues the report. “Our index is designed to reflect the main criteria used by companies to formulate their global business strategies and is based not only on historical conditions but also on our experts’ assessments for the next five years.”
The Top 10
The current Top 10 places in which to do business around the world, according to the study, are: Singapore, Denmark, the US, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Finland.
According to the report, “These are all advanced economies and long-standing strong performers in our index, so tend to be safe bets for investments. However, both headline and per capita GDP growth rates are likely to be fairly stable and slow.”
Best placed for acceleration
The EIU report goes on to identify the nations that are “best placed for an acceleration in GDP per capita and investment growth”.
Among them are Greece, Argentina, India, Angola. Qatar, Kenya, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Lithuania and Serbia.
Greece and Qatar, for example, are noted for their advancements in financing policy, while Argentina and India are earmarked for their changes to their Foreign Direct Investment policies. Angola and Venezuela’s main areas of improvement are market opportunities, Kenya receives recognition for its development of infrastructure, the improving political environment in the Dominican Republic has helped the Caribbean nation earn its spot in the rankings, and the respective tax regime and macroeconomic environment in Lithuania and Serbia are listed as their main areas of progress.
It is important to note that these 10 countries are those most likely to see their biggest improvements in score in the EIU’s index rather than the fastest real GDP growth.
In this interview with Monaco Life, Kazuki Yamada, the talented Artistic and Music Director of the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC), talks about the role of classical music in modern music, how he inspires his musicians, and what it takes to be a great conductor.
In September 2016, Kazuky Yamada succeeded the late Yakob Kreizberg as Artistic and Music Director of the Monte-Carlo Orchestra (OPMC), presided over by HRH Princess of Hannover. Yamada, born in 1979 in Kanagawa, Japan, studied at the Tokyo University of the Arts and continues to work and perform in his country of origin every season with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and as Principal Guest Conductor with Yomiuri Nippon SO. On top of that, he is the Music Director and Chairman of the Philharmonic Chorus of Tokyo and the Music Director of the Yokohama Sinfonietta.
The dynamic conductor already had a jam-packed schedule when, in the spring of 2023, he was appointed Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO). Yamada has since built a bridge between the Principality and Birmingham, having conducted collaborative performances on several occasions. He gave a series of concerts on tour around Japan with CBSO in the summer of 2023 and will take OPMC on tour to Japan in 2024. Despite his busy calendar, Yamada manages to spend quality time with his wife and family at their residence in Berlin, Germany.
Kazuki Yamada with all the musicians of the OPMC. Photo credit: Sasha Guzov OPMC
Monaco Life: Who inspired you to pursue a music career and to take up conducting?
Kazuki Yamada: I was a choirboy as a child, and the teacher, who was a true artist, had a significant influence on me. He was strict in his education, took children seriously, and never compromised when making music. One day, he asked me, “Would you like to try conducting?”. When I responded yes, the choir became my first stage as a conductor. I inherited my music and singing spirit from that teacher.
What makes an outstanding symphony conductor?
There are as many ideal images as there are conductors. It is difficult to explain; however,
since the conductor is the only musician on stage who does not make a sound, trusting the orchestra is the most crucial feature. Furthermore, you are an excellent conductor if you can point out the path to follow and motivate everyone.
“Beethoven and The Beatles may seem disconnected at first glance, but there wouldn’t be The Beatles songs without Beethoven.”
What do you feel needs to be done to grow classical music audiences?
Even though it is called classical music, there are different genres and perspectives.
What the conductor or music performer can do is continue to introduce a variety of appeals rather than a single approach.Beethoven and The Beatles may seem disconnected at first glance, but there wouldn’t be The Beatles songs without Beethoven.
Music is built on the history of tradition and evolution, so without classical music, there would be no rock, pop, or jazz. In other words, classical music is the roots and DNA of many types of music. It’s vital to hold concerts where people get to feel that DNA.We have entered an era where it’s essential to reach out and actively share your music rather than just waiting for the audience to come to the concert hall.
What is your role as an educator?
My first role is to convey and propagate music, but more importantly, I believe that we communicate how to live through music.Artistic and cultural activities express human life, so it is crucial to show an uncompromising attitude towards them.
What were your first impressions when you met the musicians of the OPMC and, recently, the musicians at CBSO?
Our first encounter with OPMC was in 2011 when I came to replace the late director, Yakov Kreizberg. So, I got the impression that the entire orchestra was enveloped in sadness. As I performed with them more and more, I realised that they were a bright and lively orchestra, and it became fun to work with them. Our bond has deepened even further by overcoming the difficult times of Covid together. I’ve been thinking of creating music that brings out the individuality in each musician.
The CBSO is in a completely different situation because financial pressure forces it to work faster, with fewer rehearsals, and focus on immediate efficiency. It was challenging to understand the characteristics of the orchestra at first, as it took only a short time from rehearsal to the actual performance. Still, I soon realised that it was a very positive orchestra. Both OPMC and CBSO are orchestras full of smiles.
What are the crucial criteria in establishing your credibility with the orchestra?
They say that a conductor must be “a musician’s musician”. A bond of trust forms only when there is an overwhelming love and understanding of music, and these emotions are shared. Working with music scores is lonely, but when I stand in front of an orchestra, I need to free and open my mind.
How do you select pieces for a concert program?
In the case of OPMC, we decide in consultation with Mr. Didier de Cottignies, the Artistic Delegate. Throughout the season, we strive to create programming and casting that appeals to our audience while ensuring a well-balanced mix of music from various countries and eras.
“Sometimes, I ask myself, ‘Did Beethoven ever see the sea?’ We only know a little about the composer, so using our imagination is essential.”
How do you convey the vision of the composer?
Sometimes, it comes through the score, and sometimes it comes to light by tracing one’s upbringing or learning about the history of that era. For example, Beethoven left behind a strict musical score, and playing according to the score leads to a good performance. But sometimes, I ask myself, “Did Beethoven ever see the sea?” We only know a little about the composer, so using our imagination is essential.
The performance may be better if the vision of 100 orchestra members is considered rather than just the conductor’s. Instead of limiting my perception, I would like to experiment alongside the question: “Did Beethoven ever see the sea?”
How do you inspire the musicians or singers?
Everyone has an excellent understanding of musical scores, so rather than just following them, I hope to offer them theopportunity to expand their imagination. There may be situations where you can convey those keywords verbally, but I would like to do this as much as possible while conducting. My commanding movements must reflect the flow of my emotions and thoughts somewhere in my commanding movements, and the better the musician, the superior the ability to interpret them.
With which instruments does the conductor have the most intense working relationship?
With every instrument alike! However, orchestras are unique, and there are specific sets of instruments that play the role of the conductor better than the conductor. For example, this is sometimes the case for the double bass and timpani; unless they move, the entire orchestra will not budge, no matter how hard the conductor tries.
Of course, the relationship with the concertmaster is very important. Vice versa, conductors need to build close relationships with all the musicians.
Kazuki Yamada with all the musicians of the OPMC. Photo credit: Sasha Guzov OPMC
Toscanini said that the arms are an extension of the mind. What exactly are the orchestra members looking for when they glance up from the music to watch you conducting?
It depends on whether there is inspiration. I aim to conduct myself in a way that makes all the members look up to me.
How do you manage your busy international concerts, opera, and choral conducting schedule?
I have a great manager who helps me schedule all my tasks in a balanced manner. There are periods when I get swamped, but I also have plenty of time off to refresh myself.
Nowadays, people spend more time in front of screens. What are the advantages of attending a live concert?
People do not make eye contact on screens or while listening to a recording. Live concerts allow for a sharing of time and space. Sharing cannot occur unless real people come together, with the audience contributing to their emotions. Sharing the music, the venue, and the atmosphere is the appeal of live concerts. And there’s a unique sense of realism in a live performance, where we never know what will happen.
A project initiated by members of the prestigious Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince in 2022 has culminated in the launch of a brand-new yet deeply sentimental four-sided double album.
The Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince, which was founded in 1966 at the behest of Prince Rainier III, formally presented the album at the orchestra’s annual gala on 7th March, but now it has been released in part online, allowing fans of the Principality the world over to enjoy the heady mix of military, ceremonial and touchingly nostalgic music.
HERITAGE AND HOMAGES
Recorded at the Palais Princier by Syde & Sound Paris and mixed at the Ferber Studios in Paris, the album comprises four discs, each dedicated to distinct themes and styles.
The A-side of the first album celebrates Monaco’s ceremonial military music, while the B-side pays homage to the country’s traditional heritage.
The second album features a Prince Rainier III tribute on its A-side and contemporary selections from the orchestra’s 2024 repertoire on the B-side.
IN MEMORY OF PRINCE RAINIER III
The Prince Rainier III tribute includes compositions from the Prince’s lifetime, notably a musical adaptation of a recently discovered poem by the Prince, entitled Piccola Citta, that was unearthed in the Palace archives by Major Olivier Drean, the orchestra’s leader, and performed during the recent gala as a world premiere.
ALBUM ART
The album cover, designed by Niçoise artist Anthony Alberti, known as Mr One Teas, encapsulates the essence of the military unit through a myriad of materials and objects representing the Carabiniers’ motto: Honour, Loyalty and Dedication.
The album cover was designed by Mr One Teas. Photo source: Monaco Communications Department
The double album is not intended for sale, but a portion of the album can be listened to here.
