Jason Derulo is set to headline the Big Art Festival at Monaco’s Hôtel de Paris this September for an exclusive evening of music and luxury, alongside special guest Marcelito Pomoy.
The Big Art Festival is set to return to Monaco on 25th September, coinciding with the Monaco Yacht Show. Following a successful summer tour that included stops in Capri, Forte dei Marmi, Porto Cervo, and Portofino, the festival will blend music and art at Monaco’s most iconic venue, the Hôtel de Paris.
The event will be held in the Salle Empire, a historic venue known for its opulent décor and prime location.
Headlining the festival is Jason Derulo, an international pop star with hits like ‘Talk Dirty’, ‘Want to Want Me’, and ‘Swalla’. Given his reputation for high-energy shows, Derulo’s performance is anticipated to be a significant draw.
Marcelito Pomoy
He will be joined by Marcelito Pomoy, known for his unique ability to sing in both tenor and soprano ranges, a talent that won him acclaim on America’s Got Talent.
Monaco Life speaks to Monaco citizen Hege Uldal Lecourt to learn more about her move from Norway to Paris and the Principality, her nomination as Honorary Consul General of Norway in Monaco, and her personal and professional interests from ballet to interior design.
Hege Uldal Lecourt was born in the South of Norway and grew up in peaceful Oslo. After highschool, she moved to the City of Lights to follow her dreams, where she learned the language of Moliere and took ballet classes. She started working in fashion, which took her worldwide for catwalks and shows. Five years later, Hege was accepted to the Paris-Pantheon-Assas University, where she studied economics. She later earned a degree in management and finance at the Paris Dauphine University.
“The summer I graduated from the University in Paris, I got engaged and married to Marc Lecourt, the father of my three boys, whom I had met five years earlier,” Hege tells Monaco Life. “My family has always been my anchor, and their support has been instrumental in all my endeavours.”
After a brief stint in the banking sector, Hege says she made a life-changing decision to focus on raising her three sons, Jean-Baptiste, Timothée, and Alexander. Later, she ventured into a completely different career path, setting up her own business in interior design. “This transition, though unexpected, has been one that I cherish and do not regret a second,” reveals Hege.
“My passions are ballet, design, traveling, and people. I have danced since I was a little girl, and I still do. I discovered the world through my first work experiences, and traveling has ever since been an important part of my life. I’m privileged to work with something that I love: interior design. Through this activity, I meet the most incredible people, and it’s this love for what I do that fuels my enthusiasm every day.”
The move to Monaco
Hege left behind her life in Paris, the City of Lights, which has exceptional architecture and cultural wonders and is also considered the capital of fashion and gastronomy, moving to Monaco when she married in 1995.
“Marc and I are not together anymore, but I’m immensely grateful for our beautiful life that we shared for more than 20 years and the family we will always be. Our three young gentlemen are my most immense pride.
I genuinely enjoy Monaco’s vibrant international scene. Every day, whether in my personal or professional capacity, I have the privilege of meeting people from all corners of the globe. This diversity is reflected in our conversations, where I often switch between French, English, Italian, and Norwegian.
At a dinner party with 12 guests, we are always 9-10 different nationalities, sometimes even 12! All from diverse religions and cultural backgrounds.”
Hege Lecourt in the fjords of Norway this summer, photo supplied
Her role as a General Honorary Consul
Hege Uldal Lecourt was appointed the new General Consul of Norway in Monaco on 2nd October 2023. She says her role is multifaceted. It involves representing the nation with integrity and good reputation, facilitating contacts with local authorities, and assisting Norwegian nationals in consular matters and emergencies. Additionally, it entails promoting economic, cultural, and educational ties between Norway and the Principality, particularly in areas of shared interest such as environment and ocean protection.
“My role, as General Honorary Consul of Norway, consists of assisting Norwegian nationals with consular matters and advice and help in case of emergencies. I also promote economic, cultural, and educational ties between Norway and the Principality, two nations with common values and interests, especially in environment and ocean protection.”
Interior design
In 2007, Hege and an associate launched Studio H, an interior design company with a showroom located in the heart of the Carre d’Or in the Principality.
“Together with a close friend, we launched Studio H, a design company. We had earlier worked in banking, and we were both passionate about interior design and architecture. My friend Nicholas had left the financial world and created an interior design company based in Geneva a few years earlier. I highly admired his decision to follow his passion and suggested we open one in Monaco. Later, our paths went in different directions, so I continued Studio H on my own, and Nicholas brought his company, Deco & Beyond, from Geneva to Monaco.”
Hege says Studio H achieves high-end projects all over Europe: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Monaco, for residents of the Principality, and some with as many as four to five homes.
“I am proud of the fact that these families ask us to help them with every new project, a testament to the quality and satisfaction we bring to our clients.”
Monaco Ambassadors Club membership
Hege is a member of the Monaco Ambassadors Club (MAC), a prestigious organisation founded in 1973 at Princess Grace’s initiative. Prince Albert II is the Honorary President of MAC, following his mother’s legacy. Members act as ambassadors of the Monegasque culture and the MAC’s mission is to promote the Principality locally and internationally, focusing on education, child protection, research, and international business.
“I joined the club to meet new people. Moreover, MAC’s many missions resonate with me. Education and child protection, culture and sports are major issues that I care about.
Education is the key to a life of freedom. Culture and sports bring us together and help us to connect on a deeper level. Bonds are forged no matter the background, and these are some of the keys to peace in the world. Having the pleasure of meeting people from all over the world with shared interests and a unique link to the country of their hearts, Monaco.”
Main photo: Hege Uldal Lecourt, General Honorary Consul of Norway, at the inauguration of the new General Consulate in the Principality. Credit: Leslie Rodrigo, Norway General Consulate
New Secretary of State for Justice in Monaco, Petit-Leclair files for wrongful termination
Prince Albert II has announced the appointment of Samuel Vuelta Simon as the new Secretary of State and Director of Judicial Services for Monaco, effective from 16th September.
Vuelta Simon, who is currently serving as the Public Prosecutor at the Judicial Court of Toulouse, will succeed Sylvie Petit-Leclair, who has held the position since June 2022, it was announced on Friday 30th August.
A distinguished French magistrate, Vuelta Simon brings a wealth of experience from various judicial positions, both in prosecutorial and judicial capacities. His career has been notably marked by his work in combating organised crime and addressing economic and financial misconduct. Prior to his role in Toulouse, he served as an investigating judge in several courts and later as the Public Prosecutor in Bayonne.
Renowned for his leadership skills and ability to implement structural reforms, Mr. Vuelta Simon is expected to bring his expertise and strategic vision to the Monegasque justice system. His focus will be on enhancing the efficiency, independence, and quality of Monaco’s judiciary.
In his communication, Prince Albert II thanked Sylvie Petit-Leclair for her dedicated service as the head of the Judicial Services Directorate.
Wrongful termination complaint filed
In an interview with AFP, Sylvie Petit-Leclair said she was “deeply outraged by the circumstances and lack of justification for (her) dismissal,” noting that she has filed a complaint with Monaco’s Supreme Court, which is currently under review, for “wrongful termination.”
She added, “Throughout my time serving justice in Monaco, I was supported by Prince Albert, whose principles are well-known. Therefore, I do not see the Sovereign reflected in the decision to have me leave prematurely. I can only lament the harmful influence of his new entourage, which, evidently, does not seem to share the same values regarding the rule of law and judicial independence,” she stated.
The legacy of Monegasque poet and composer Léo Ferré is to be honoured at the Espace Léo Ferré this September. It will be the last exhibition held at the venue before it relocates to the Îlot Pasteur area.
Between 2nd and 15th September, the Espace Léo Ferré in Fontvieille will host a photography exhibition centred on the Monegasque artist who gave his name to the cultural hub.
The exhibition, organised by the Espace Léo Ferré in conjunction with the Mairie de Monaco, will showcase the work of Belgian photographer Hubert Grooteclaes (1927-1994), who captured the long-standing artistic relationship between the two men.
Entitled ‘Final Photo Exhibition of Léo Ferré at Espace Léo Ferré – Seen Through the Lens of Hubert Grooteclaes’, it will be the last event held in the current location before the venue relocates to the Îlot Pasteur area.
Grooteclaes documented Ferré’s life and career over three decades. His images portray the deep connection between himself and the singer, with Grooteclaes once remarking, “For me, knowing him was more important than photography.”
Ferré also admired Grooteclaes and is quoted as having said to his long-time friend, “Allow me to thank and congratulate you for being the man before the click, for being the flight before the bird.”
Ferré, who lived from 1916 until 1993, was a renowned French-Monegasque singer, songwriter and poet. He was known for his influential contributions to chanson, blending lyrics with a distinctive style that left a significant impact on the French-language music industry of the 20th century. Ferré released around 40 albums during his music career, with many hit singles.
The exhibition will be free and open to the public, running daily from 11.30 am to 7pm, with an opening at 2pm on the inaugural day of the show.
Following the UEFA Champions League draw at the Grimaldi Forum, where Cristiano Ronaldo was honoured with a special lifetime achievement award, it has been confirmed that AS Monaco will face some of Europe’s biggest teams, including FC Barcelona, Inter Milan and Arsenal.
On the back of an incredible Ligue 1 season, which saw the Rouges et Blancs place second behind Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco’s premier football team is keen to prove its players are up to the challenge of the UEFA Champions League for the tenth time in the club’s history.
The league phase draw for the competition was held in the Principality on 29th August at a glamourous and star-studded event at the Grimaldi Forum.
The draw was conducted differently from previous seasons, with the responsibility for fair results falling on a special software programme for the very first time.
The outcome is a mixed bag for Monaco, which was in Pot 4, with some serious challengers lined up for the coming weeks.
The Monegasque side is set to take on SL Benfica, Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade), Aston Villa and Barcelona on home turf in the Stade Louis II, while away fixtures include meets with Inter Milan, Arsenal, GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Bologna.
“We are very happy to have the opportunity to welcome some of these clubs to Monaco and to travel to others,” said AS Monaco Director General Thiago Scuro following the completion of the UEFA Champions League draw, “but also to discover new opponents like Dinamo Zagreb and to see how the players who joined us this summer will play in this competition. In this league phase system, it is very important to take points, regardless of whether it is a home or away match and what the identity of the team we face is.”
The dates for these games are yet to be confirmed, but fans can sign up for ticket alerts to be the first to know about online sales via asmonaco.com.
CRISTIANO RONALDO GIVEN SPECIAL AWARD
If the night wasn’t already exciting enough for the teams and their fans, football legend and all-time leading Champions League goal scorer Cristiano Ronaldo made an appearance on the red carpet outside of the Monaco venue and was later presented with a lifetime achievement award in honour of his legacy and contributions to the world of football and sport as a whole.
He was presented with the accolade by UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.
39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo is the UEFA Champions League all-time leading goal scorer. Photo credit: UEFA
Over his 18 years on the pitch, the 39-year-old Portuguese player has racked up some 140 goals in 183 UEFA Champions League appearances, surpassing the great Lionel Messi by 11 goals. He has also won the League on five separate occasions: once with Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid. He is the only player to have ever scored in three separate Champions League finals.
With its ‘Paradis Naturiste’ exhibition in full swing, the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean in Marseille has made the bold announcement that, once a month, visitors are free to explore the display and wander its halls in the nude. There’s only one rule: you must wear shoes.
On 3rd September and again on 11th October, the Museum of Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean (MUCEM) in Marseille will be opening its doors to visitors in the buff.
This isn’t a random decision—although it’s certainly a striking one—as the MUCEM is currently hosting the ‘Paradis Naturiste’ exhibition, a celebration and exploration of the history of naturism in Europe.
Held in collaboration with the French Naturist Federation (FFN), the au naturel experiences will add an immersive element to the exhibition for nudists. The only request made by the museum is that visitors wear shoes in order to “avoid getting splinters”, according to FFN chief Eric Stefanut.
The nudie visits will take place during times when the museum would normally be closed so as not to shock anyone with more delicate sensibilities, as well as to provide respectful privacy to those choosing to wander the exhibit naked. The most recent evening attracted upwards of 80 people.
ARCHIVAL PHOTOS AND MORE
The show itself is a tribute to the naturist movement, the roots of which go back to 19th-century Switzerland and Germany. France jumped on the bandwagon in the 1930s. Marseille has long been known as the epicentre of the French naturist movement, so the museum’s exhibition is an innate extension.
It features 600 archival photos, films, paintings, sculptures and other artwork from public and private collections, including loans from Paris’s Centre Pompidou, the Louvre and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, as well as a black-and-white portrait of Christine Lecocq, one of the first known French women to embrace the lifestyle. She lived until the age of 103.
The naturist Oltra Helio-Marine Center resort in Port Ambonne during its heyday. Photo credit: Collection Marie-Hélène Oltra
“France is the world’s leading tourist destination for naturists: its temperate climate and the presence of three seas have facilitated the establishment of communities, which—with the exception of Switzerland—have few real equivalents elsewhere in Europe, where naturism is practised more freely, outside established communities,” says a representative for the MUCEM. “In recent years, a new craze for nudity in nature has arisen, going hand in hand with the search for healthy, vegetarian diets and the use of natural therapies, meditation and yoga in the open air. These lifestyles, along with the rejection of the diktats that so weigh down our bodies, are all keys to understanding the issues at stake in the naturism of yesterday and today.”
While nudity is not a requirement at the once-a-month events, it is expected, with a museum spokesperson saying, “Anyone wanting to visit fully dressed during those hours might be considered a little odd.”
For those who prefer to keep their shirts—and trousers—on, the exhibition is fully accessible to the public during usual opening hours until 9th December.
To read more about the ‘Paradis Naturiste’ exhibition, click here.
