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Day: 12 December 2024

Open to all: access to the Médiathèque de Monaco will be free from 2025

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/12/2024

From the start of 2025, all subscriptions to the Médiathèque de Monaco, the Principality’s public multimedia library, will be free of charge. The decision to remove all charges was motivated by the Municipal Council’s progressive approach to learning and education, with Mayor Georges Marsan saying, “Culture is a necessity and not a luxury.”

The Médiathèque de Monaco has long served as a local gateway to culture, offering diverse resources and services to residents and visitors alike. It has always been a popular destination among people of all ages and nationalities, but now it is expected to become even more so, as the Municipal Council has decided that the multimedia network will offer its services and events free of charge from the start of 2025.

Longtime Mayor of Monaco, Georges Marsan, has emphasised the significance of this decision, stating, “The Municipal Council decided that culture is a necessity and not a luxury. As a result, elected officials are keen to make it free for all.”

By making registration free, the establishment hopes to encourage greater cultural engagement and inspire the community at large to use and benefit from its services, while simultaneously addressing societal challenges such as digital illiteracy, access to information, media education and environmental awareness.

The Médiathèque’s facilities are spread across four distinct sites, including the Louis Notari Library, a hub for general reading materials, and the Vidéothèque-Sonothèque José Notari, a space for audiovisual resources. The Princess Caroline Library-Game Library is dedicated to younger audiences, while the Heritage Fund provides an area devoted to the preservation of Monaco’s historical and cultural treasures.

With free subscriptions, the Médiathèque invites everyone to explore its extensive resources and take part in its overarching mission to cultivate a more informed and connected society.

To find out more about the Médiathèque and its offerings, click here.

Read related:

Monaco unveils culture.mc, a new one-stop website for events and exhibitions

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo source: Mairie de Monaco

The magic of Luminiscence comes to Nice’s Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/12/2024

There is limited time left to experience the breathtaking, immersive musical and visual spectacle that is Luminiscence, which will be on show at Nice’s Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption until the end of 2024.

Luminiscence is renowned for creating bespoke shows tailored to each unique venue it visits. Following its successes at the Saint-André Cathedral in Bordeaux, Saint-Eustache Church in Paris and Lille’s Notre-Dame-de-la-Treille Cathedral, the production has brought its latest masterpiece to Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption on Avenue Jean-Médecin in Nice.

Nearly 50 artists and technicians collaborated on this six-month project, which began with a 3D scan of the towering basilica. This precise mapping allowed video projections to seamlessly blend with the building’s intricate architectural details.

Mesmerising historical storytelling

The show invites audiences to rediscover the basilica through a mesmerising combination of storytelling and visual artistry. Video projections illuminate every detail of the site, from the soaring columns to the vaulted ceilings, enhancing the beauty of this 19th-century structure.

Narrated by the voice of Charles Lenormand, the basilica’s original architect, the show explores its construction and its remarkable survival of the 1887 earthquake that occurred just eight years after its completion.

In comments made to France 3, Luminiscence co-founder Romain Sarfati highlighted the importance of storytelling, saying, “To arouse wonder and emotion, we must be able to embark on a journey, so the narration is important.”

To ensure historical accuracy, the Luminiscence team collaborated with a historian, crafting an immersive tale told in four acts.

The stunning visuals are further elevated by the enchanting sounds of the Camerata Apollonia Choir, led by Conductor Matthieu Pereygne. This talented regional ensemble performs classical and sacred masterpieces, including Antonio Vivaldi’s L’hiver and the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus. Soloists add an intimate touch to the opening act with 15-minute performances that connect the basilica’s history to the audience.

A show for all ages

One of Luminiscence’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. At just one hour long, the show is ideal for families with young children. Despite its historical depth, the narration is engaging for audiences of all ages, blending education with enchantment. With tickets priced between €19 and €45, it offers an affordable and enriching cultural experience in one of Nice’s most important religious sites.

Luminiscence runs until 28th December 2024. Tickets are on sale here.

For a preview of the show, watch the short video below:

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

 

Photo source: Luminiscence 

Football: Arsenal squander Monaco’s hopes of wrapping-up Champions League progression

by: Luke Entwistle
12/12/2024
Monaco's Kehrer is grappled by an Arsenal player during the defeat to the Gunners at the Emirates

A dominant Arsenal side condemned AS Monaco to back-to-back defeats in the Champions League (3-0) as Adi Hütter’s side missed te chance to secure their qualification in London on Wednesday.

Hütter assured that his youthful side “wouldn’t hide” against Arsenal, favourites on paper, stating a determination to impose their style of football. Les Monégasques failed to do that in the first 45 minutes. Monaco were left chasing shadows as the Gunners dominated, creating a string of high-quality chances. 

Arsenal lay seige on Majecki’s goal

“We were lucky in the first half that Arsenal didn’t score more,” reflected the Monaco manager post-match. In the end, the visitors headed into the break just one goal down, quite miraculously. Gabriel Jesus had three great chances, two of which were one-on-ones, expertly foiled by Radoslaw Majecki, who did his best to keep Monaco in this tie. 

Martin Odegaard also slid the ball wide when one-on-one whilst Gabriel Martinelli also should have done better with just Majecki to beat. However, Arsenal did head in with an advantage thanks to Bukayo Saka, who latched onto Jesus’ ball to the back post. 

Majecki had a busy first half, unlike David Raya, who remained untested at the other end. A goal down, Hütter changed tack at half-time. Off came Soungoutou Magassa, on came Takumi Minamino as Monaco reverted to their more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. 

It had an effect as Monaco grew into the game. Thilo Kehrer went close with a header, Breel Embolo fired just wide on the swivel and Minamino also had an effort on goal.

Monaco pay for ‘impossible’ mistakes

But the pressure, against such high-level opposition, could not be sustained. Arsenal, once again in a title battle in the Premier League, managed the game excellently and when the chance to kill the game came their way late on, they took it.

It was an individual error, a misunderstanding between Majecki and Mohammed Salisu that allowed Arsenal to pounce inside the Monégasque penalty box and Saka applied the finishing touch, registering his second on the night.

It was his shot, which took a guided flick of Kai Havertz that completed the scoring and provided perhaps a fairer reflection of Arsenal’s domination on the night.

Monaco have lost this season but all four of their previous defeats came by just one goal. The defeat at the Emirates was the first time that the Principality club were truly outplayed this season and that, coupled with the individual mistakes, made it a night to forget for Monaco.

“We gave them lots of gifts. At this level, it is impossible and not acceptable to make the mistkaes that we made,” lamented the Monaco manager post-match.

Monaco’s top 8 hopes dimmen

However, it wasn’t all negative. “I also saw positive things against a fantastic team with a maginificent style of play,” said Hütter. Arsenal showed Monaco the level that they are looking to attain, especially if they want to go deep in the Champions League.

Despite defeat, their second on the bounce, Les Monégasques are still almost certain to qualify for the play-off phase, although hopes of a top eight finish have now significantly dimmed.

Attention will now return to Ligue 1 with a match against Reims coming up on Saturday. For that game, Monaco will still be without Denis Zakaria and Folarin Balogun, the latter has been forced to undergo surgery on his shoulder issue. However, Wilfried Singo and Christian Mawissa will both return. All four were certainly missed by Monaco against Arsenal.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: AS Monaco