As Monaco’s Les Printemps des Arts festival continues to unfold, attendees this week can look forward to an eclectic blend of experiences, from masterclasses with musical maestros to dinner concerts and avant-garde performances.
This week’s events kick off on Wednesday 27th March with a piano masterclass led by Maroussia Gentet at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Nice. This event, running from 2pm to 5pm, is an opportunity for aspiring pianists to learn from one of the finest in the field.
That evening, the Hôtel Hermitage’s Salle Belle Époque will host an extravagant dinner concert combining the stellar talents of two Michelin starred Chef Yannick Alléno, of Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, and violinist David Haroutunian. Tickets to the event cost €350 per person and reservations ahead of time are required. Click here for more information.
On Thursday 28th March, the spotlight will shift to the Yacht Club de Monaco, where celebrated pianist Gentet will be performing from 8pm. The programme for the concert includes works by composers such as Wolfgang Rihm and Maurice Ravel, offering a juxtaposition of styles and eras.
The following day, on Friday 29th March, the Théâtre National de Nice will collaborate with TM+ Package to host an event that includes a pre-show meeting with conductor, composer and musical director Laurent Cuniot, moderated by musicologist Tristan Labouret. The concert itself, which will begin at 8pm, will act as the world premiere of Cuniot’s take on ‘Le Chant de la Terre.’
For the full programme of events at Les Printemps des Arts, click here.
Monaco’s gastronomic food festival, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo, will return this year six months earlier than previous editions. But while the start date may have changed, the concept remains the same: SBM’s Michelin-starred culinary maestros will join forces with globally acclaimed chefs to fashion an exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime menu for an elite audience.
Since its inception in 2020, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo has become a cherished tradition within the culinary world. Founded by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), a cornerstone of Monaco’s hospitality and entertainment scene, the festival represents a convergence of culinary mastery, creativity and passion.
Each year in autumn, the festival has drawn together a constellation of Michelin-starred chefs, all eager to showcase their talents and tantalise the taste buds of attendees.
New in 2024, the Festival des Etoilés Monte-Carlo will be held between April and October, with a “four hands” menu proposed by each of SBM’s starred restaurants: Blue Bay Marcel Ravin at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Le Grill and Le Louis XV Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, a restaurant by Yannick Alléno at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
The Festival des Étoiles Monte-Carlo offers a platform for participating chefs to present their signature dishes, crafted with the finest ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. From innovative interpretations of classic cuisine to avant-garde culinary experiments, each dish is a testament to the creativity and skill of its creator.
This year, world-renowned Chef Alain Ducasse will open the festival with a history-making partnership with Chef Simon Rogan, of the three Michelin starred restaurant L’Enclume in the Lake District of the United Kingdom.
On 20th April, Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse will welcome Simon Rogan and his team to create a menu that is synonymous with their shared passions: respect for the planet and ingredients that capture the very essence of the local terroir.
Simon Rogan MBE, a globally acclaimed chef and pioneer of the ‘From farm to table’ movement, opened his first L’Enclume restaurant in 2002, championing locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce. Recognised with a green star in 2021 and three Michelin stars in 2022, L’Enclume stands tall among the nine three-starred establishments in England.
The new-look Blue Bay Marcel Ravin. Photo by SBM
A fusion of flavours
On 11th May, Monaco’s two-starred Marcel Ravin is inviting David Toutain into his kitchen, the chef and owner of the two-starred David Toutain restaurant in Paris.
The two chefs share a deep love of nature and a passion for authenticity, as well as a keen interest in sustainable catering, particularly in terms of the quality and provenance of products. They also both have a keen interest in the materials used in their restaurants and in the development of the spaces within them. So, this pairing appears to be a natural step for them both.
Le Grill at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo will be hosting two exceptional evenings on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd June. For this fourth edition, Dominique Lory is inviting Yoan Conte, the chef and owner of the two-starred gastronomic restaurant La Table in Annecy. Chef Conte is famous for telling the stories behind his dishes, taking customers on a gastronomic journey to the heart of what inspires him.
Le Grill Chef Dominique Lory during the Festival des Etoilés 2023. Photo by Monaco Life
Come 14th and 15th September, it will be Chef Yannick Alléno’s turn to steer the gastronomic ship his way, with American Chef Richard Lee alongside him at the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo at the Hôtel de Paris.
As Executive Head Chef of two-starred Saison in San Francisco, Lee is known for taking the best local and international ingredients and combining them with open fire cooking.
“It is important to me that the food has soul; that when a guest sees the dish they get excited, and when they taste it, it’s followed by delight,” says the first generation Chinese-American chef.
The Festival des Etoilés will close with a grand gala in October at the iconic Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, featuring all four of SBM’s starred chefs serving up their signature dishes.
A 22-year-old driver who was behind the wheel of an Audi RS4 that crashed into a wall just days before Christmas 2023, killing two and injuring two others, has been charged with manslaughter and causing unintentional injury.
The horrific crash occurred on 17th December at the western exit of the Tunnel du Millenium in Monaco. Two female students – a 19-year-old from Kazakhstan and a 20-year-old from Azerbaijan – were killed, while the 22-year-old driver of Finnish nationality was left seriously injured and fighting for his life in hospital alongside his other two female passengers, one of whom is Italian and another of American citizenship.
The tragic event happened at around 4.30am in the morning. According to reports, the driver, who had been drinking alcohol in the hours before the crash, had been attempting to take his fellow International University of Monaco students home after a night at the Twiga nightclub.
Toxicology reports, the results of which have been published by the Monaco Matin, indicate a blood alcohol concentration of 1.87g/l at the time of the crash. No illegal or illicit drugs were found to be in his system.
Such were his injuries that the driver was only made aware of the crash and its ramifications on 8th February, reports the Monaco Matin. He has spent much of the last three months at the Hôpital Pasteur in Nice and most recently at the Centre Hélio-Marin de Vallauris.
On 21st March, he was reportedly summoned to attend a hearing at the request of the overseeing judge in Monaco. After questioning, he was charged with manslaughter and causing unintentional injury.
Although the Public Prosecutor had requested the 22-year-old be detained pending trial, the Monaco Matin reports that he has instead been placed under judicial supervision “with several obligations, and in particular a bond of €60,000 in installments”.
Comments made by the Attorney General of Monaco, as published by the Monaco-based newspaper, say, “[The driver] regrets the incident, but does not remember it.”
Over the coming weeks, Monaco’s Espace 22 will play host to a unique selection of modern and contemporary artworks from acclaimed French and international artists that are traditionally displayed at Art Gallery 44 in Saint Paul de Vence.
Art Gallery 44, nestled in the artistically rich hilltop village of Saint Paul de Vence, a place that has historically enchanted legends such as Matisse, Picasso and Chagall with its vibrant art scene, has unveiled an exciting new project.
For three weeks beginning 27th March, the gallery will be exporting its legacy to Monaco’s Espace 22, situated at 24 Boulevard d’Italie, through a special exhibition of modern and contemporary art.
Art connoisseurs and admirers in the Principality will be able to enjoy pieces from an eclectic mix of iconic names, including Arman, César, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Basquiat, Jean Miotte, Joan Mirò, Marc Chagall, Soulages and Jeff Koons, among others, but what sets this exhibition apart is its focus not only on established names, but also on fostering emerging talent from various parts of the world. Visitors to the exhibition can expect to discover artworks from a number of new talents from China, Japan and Thailand on top of those by the great names of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The exhibition’s organisers have arranged for a vernissage to take place on 27th March at 5.30pm, inviting art enthusiasts to engage directly with the artworks and perhaps even a collection of the artists themselves. With free admission, the organisers hope to attract a wide audience.
The exhibition will be open daily from 10.30am to 7.30pm until 17th April.
Ahead of the start of each month, the French government releases a list of all the changes that will be coming into play in the coming weeks. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening in April.
TRANSPORTATION
April sees the end of the requirement to display a green insurance sticker in the windscreen of a registered vehicle in France. Law enforcement officers will soon have access to a Fichier des Véhicules Assurés (FVA) that will be moderated by insurance companies.
Also on the cards are mandatory technical inspections for two-wheeled vehicles such as motorbikes, mopeds and scooters. This new law will come into force from 15th April, although deadlines vary depending on the year of the model, with 31st December the final day for vehicles made before 2017, 31st December 2025 for those manufactured between 2017 and 2019, and 31st December 2026 for the newest. The fine for non-compliance will be €135.
EDUCATION
University applicants have until 3rd April to complete their online Parcoursup wish-list file for admissions. Parcoursup is a portal designed by the French Ministry of Education and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation that manages the balance between undergraduate places in French universities and other higher education institutions as well as university applications for candidates with a high school diploma. University replies and offers will start being sent out to students from 30th May.
BENEFITS
People who benefit from Active Solidarity Income (RSA), the activity bonus, family allowances and allowances for disabled adults (AAH) will see a 4.6% rise in their monthly cheques from April. The increase is being made to help offset the effects of inflation.
WINTER RULES
Finally, 1st April marks the end of the yearly ‘winter break’ imposed on landlords, which prevents them from evicting tenants between 1st November and 31st March for offenses such as unpaid rent, non-compliance with building rules or unruly behaviours. This rule was put in place to protect people from being made homeless in the colder months.
For more information about these changes, click here.
How can the world’s richest individuals help protect the ocean? By stepping up their philanthropic contributions and environmental commitments, says Prince Albert, and by funding more Marine Protected Areas and blue economy innovations, according to the experts.
One of the hot topics in a busy Monaco Ocean Week schedule was Ocean Philanthropy. It filled the meeting room of the Yacht Club de Monaco on Tuesday 19th March, with the audience eager to hear from experts the role that philanthropy can play in protecting the oceans.
“Philanthropy is still lagging behind”
In a place like Monaco, where a significant portion of the global billionaire population either reside or own properties, the act of giving back to society is not only common, it is expected.
But as Prince Albert II of Monaco said in his opening speech, “Philanthropy is still lagging behind in terms of environmental commitments, especially in relation to the marine environment.”
That’s not to say it doesn’t exist. Some of the world’s wealthiest individuals and prominent foundations have made substantial contributions to ocean conservation efforts, especially in recent years. For example, the Ocean Elders, a group of influential leaders dedicated to ocean conservation, includes individuals like Richard Branson, Ted Turner and Sylvia Earle, who have used their resources and platforms to advocate for marine protections and support related initiatives.
It just isn’t enough.
Prince Albert at Monaco Ocean Week 2024, photo credit: JC Vinaj/FPA2, Olivier Huitel/FPA2
Taking ocean philanthropy to the next level
The role of conferences like ‘Ocean Philanthropy’ during Monaco Ocean Week is to gather together key stakeholders who share the same goal: to protect the oceans more effectively by supporting innovation and establishing more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
“Our goal is to place philanthropy at the heart of the global approach that engulfs all lifestyles, all societies and all economies,” said Prince Albert. “It is a question of fostering profound change, supporting the emergence of new economic models and new initiatives that perhaps are not profitable now, but which will become very soon as seen in many examples introduced this week.”
The solution, as pointed out by Monaco’s Sovereign and passionate ocean conservationist, is “to work hand in hand with all of the players involved with the ocean – scientists, businesses which hold the innovation, political institutions, and stakeholders in the field, who all understand the actions that we must support”.
High-level discussions
The conference gathered together a panel of experts that included: Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Minna Epps; IPCC Secretary Abdalah Mokssit; and Ramzi Issa, the creator of UBS’ ESG debt-swap, an initiative that involves the exchange of traditional debt instruments for those with stronger ESG credentials.
Each panel member gave an important insight into the role of philanthropy in ocean conservation.
“It is time to think about solution-oriented science,” counselled Mokssit.
Perhaps the most resounding words came from Enric Sala, Conservationist and National Geographic Explorer in Residence. This former university professor, who saw himself writing the obituary of ocean life, spoke about a regenerative blue economy, the need to dramatically increase the number of MPAs and the importance of achieving ‘30 by 30’, a global conservation initiative aiming to protect 30% of the world’s land and sea areas by 2030. This target is considered crucial for preserving biodiversity, combating climate change and ensuring the long-term health of ecosystems.
“If we really want to develop a Blue Economy that is sustainable and regenerative, the key is 30 by 30,” said Sala. “We can have clean energy, which is great. We can have investable businesses that will make aquaculture officially less bad, which is good. But none of these regenerate the oceans. The only way for the ocean to regenerate is to let it regenerate itself. The science is very clear. This why we need more Marine Protect Areas.”
The Mediterranean coastline hugs the Principality of Monaco. Photo by Monaco Life
Sala gave the example of watching French oceanographer and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau when he was younger, witnessing oceans that were filled with fish and different marine species. In reality, when he went diving in the Mediterranean at age 18, he saw nothing like that.
“I thought the Mediterranean was a sea that was naturally poor, until I did my first scuba dive in the Medes Islands, situated in the heart of the Costa Brava, Catalonia, Spain. When I jumped in the water, it was like diving in one of Cousteau’s documentaries. All the fish that were missing from my childhood were there – grouper, scorpion fish, sea bream, sea bass – it was spectacular. But that’s what Marine Protected Areas do, they regenerate the ocean. They turn places that are almost dead into thriving ecosystems where all the species are numerous.”
This restoration of marine life, in turn, provides plenty of benefits to humanity. The MPA that Sala was referring to is only one square kilometre in size – no bigger than Port Hercule in Monaco – yet it generates €16 million in tourism revenue each year from diving and employs 200 people. The cost of managing that reserve, meanwhile, is only €500,000 per year.
“We have seen that, on average, for every $1 invested in an MPA, it generates $10 in economic output, so it’s actually a very good investment,” he affirmed.
Breaking down the myths
Among the main excuses that people like Sala hears with regards to why we can not protect more of the ocean is that it will cost too much money.
“Protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 – managing a network of marine reserves from small to large, from the poles to the tropics – would cost around $20 billion a year. It sounds a lot,” said the former academic. “Well, that’s the same amount that governments spend to subsidise the fishing industry to conduct overfishing. So, the money is there, but we use it to destroy instead of regenerate.”
Philanthropy can kick start new MPAs and new markets
So, what role can philanthropy really play?
“Philanthropy as a catalytic capital has a key role to fund the implementation of these marine protected areas, to jump start them, and for relatively small amounts of capital. Philanthropy will really help to get us closer to 30 by 30. There is not enough philanthropic capital in the world to cover the $20 billion dollars per year needed, but there other financing mechanisms like debt-swaps, insurance mechanisms and blue bonds that can be stacked on top of public funding, which we know is available. More flow of capital also has to go from the global north to the global south.”
Philanthropy can also help to build new markets. Sala gave the example of carbon markets – mechanisms that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating a financial incentive for organisations to cut their carbon footprint – and bottom trawling, the most destructive form of fishing on the planet.
A 2021 study published in Nature calculated that trawling stirs up and releases about one gigaton, or one billion metric tons, of carbon each year — nearly equivalent to the annual emissions from the global aviation industry.
“So, we’re talking about a minimum $30 billion Carbon Market. This dwarfs any another Carbon Market we are talking about.”
The overwhelming message
As the experts show, by aligning philanthropic efforts with tangible conservation objectives, we can harness the power of capital to drive meaningful progress in ocean preservation, ensuring a more resilient and prosperous future for generations to come.
“If philanthropy has clear and measurable goals, it can produce some of the most cost-efficient outcomes on the planet,” concluded Sala, signaling a compelling imperative for concerted philanthropic action in safeguarding our marine heritage.
