Nearly 400 guests filled the gilded halls of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo on Monday 28th April for the premiere of Esultate, a landmark television documentary charting the extraordinary history of this iconic institution. Created by journalist Frédéric Laurent and his son Jérémie, the series is the first of its kind to bring the story of a major opera house to the screen, with its debut episode drawing an audience that included Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline of Hanover.
The first instalment of the four-part series, titled Esultate, L’Histoire de l’Opéra de Monte-Carlo, traces the origins of the opera house from its founding era in 1879 up until 1951. Spanning 64 minutes, it highlights the prolific creative period during which more than 80 operas premiered, many under the legendary directorship of Raoul Gunsbourg. “This series, which tells the story of an opera house, is unique,” said Frédéric Laurent. “There is no other history of a major opera house in the world told in television format. The richness of its content is exceptional.”
Meticulously researched and visually striking, Esultate draws on more than 180 opera excerpts, 700 illustrations, and dozens of interviews. Its production was made possible thanks in part to the support of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, which granted the Laurents access to its vast archives.
A total of 149 historic opera programmes were digitised for the project, offering unprecedented visual documentation of Monaco’s musical legacy.
Stéphane Valeri, President-Delegate of Monte-Carlo SBM, praised the filmmakers for their scholarly dedication and artistic passion. “I was immediately struck by the rigour and passion that drove Frédéric Laurent. He has accomplished a true labour of love — meticulous, demanding, and deeply documented. This film reminds us how much the Opera, always under the guidance of Monaco’s Princes and Princesses, has contributed to the international influence of our country in the arts and culture.”
This first screening, hosted inside the very venue it honours, was attended by top dignitaries including Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Monaco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Jean-Louis Grinda, former director of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo. With the release of Esultate, Monaco celebrates not only a cornerstone of its cultural identity but also a new milestone in the storytelling of global opera history.
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Main photo source: MCSBM