Two spectacular events are coming to the Grimaldi Forum in June featuring music, dance, acrobatics and magic.
The Grimaldi Forum is playing host to two shows sure to be on the calendars of anyone who likes a bit of fun in their lives.
The first, coming on 3rd June at 8:30pm, The Virtuoses, is being billed as a musical treat with magic, but is actually so much more. Two pianists take to the stage and – without a single word being uttered – mix music, contemporary magic and “Chapinesque” clowning into an evening of laughs, music and surprises.
The two players have the talent and dexterity of classical pianists, the comedic timing of silent movie actors, and magical skills worthy of Harry Potter. The pair play impressive four-handed duets that are enhanced with “magical transformations” that take the audience to another world filled with laughter and fun.
Musicians, actors, and magicians all rolled into one, the irresistible Virtuoses “achieve the seemingly impossible, marrying wild imagination with seriousness and making great music come alive for everybody. This is a dream-like celebration in music carried off infectious enthusiasm by these two dynamic pianists.”
Next up is a charity event benefitting Ukraine entitled My Land, on 10th June at 8pm. This circus-dance show features seven Circassian artists who, combing art, music, theatre and dance, reveal their deep connection to their country of origin.
These seven Ukrainian acrobats push the limits of the body whilst “recounting” through movement tales of their lives, loves, traditions and hopes using music drawn from Ukrainian, Moldavian and Tatar folk tunes.
Directed and choreographed by Bence Vagi, founder and artistic director of the Hungarian contemporary circus company Recirquel, My Land has been a phenomenal success since it first premiered in 2018 at the Fringe Festival in Edinburg. After more than 200 performances across Europe, this show takes on a special dimension with the current war in Ukraine.
All proceeds from the show will be donated by the Grimaldi Forum Monaco to the Monegasque Red Cross for Ukraine.
Feature photo of Les Virtuoses bulles by Jérôme Pouille
Monaco’s new F1 experience: “Closing the gap between virtual and reality”
AS Grand Prix vibes reach fever pitch, Monaco’s own Bond international, RS Simulation and iCrew Services are partnering-up to bring a thrilling F1 simulator experience to the Principality, on the biggest screen you could ever imagine.
“As with most things, we like to do something that we think has not been done before,” Bond Management Director Will Faimatea tells Monaco Life.
What they have created in the Samsung Lounge is certainly something that hasn’t been seen, or experienced, in the Principality before. The enormous, ultra-modern, electronically advanced screen by Samsung, dubbed “The Wall”, is a must-see in itself. Pair that with a €42,000 SectorOne professional simulator created in partnership with Scuderia Alpha Tauri’s F1 driver Pierre Gasly, and you have a seriously immersive racing experience.
This “eye-catching” synergy between Bond and RS Simulation Monaco was born out of a chance meeting between Will Faimatea and Jonathan Mareschal, business director of RS Simulation Monaco. Having seen the capacities of the simulator on a 50” screen, Faimatea immediately saw the potential to maximise the product and bring it to a larger, more advanced screen.
“The Wall is suited to fast moving actions, which you get driving on the simulator because we’re driving through Monaco and the background is changing at a very high speed,” says Faimatea.
The Wall is often used to show sporting events and movies, but the addition of the simulator will allow guests to engage in an exclusive, unforgettable experience.
The SectorOne simulator itself is the first compact simulator born from real racing, from the work of race engineers using simulation as a tool in the racing industry to answer an increasing demand of professional drivers wanting to work/train at home. They include Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly, SectorOne’s main ambassador, a racing enthusiast eager to use the ultimate simulation technology, as performant as luxurious.
The SectorOne was inaugurated in 2019 with Pierre Gasly on a yacht in Monaco, whilst a whole host of other drivers such as Nico Hülkenburg, Nico Rosberg and Jean Eric Vergne have also tested what the simulator has to offer. It is “a state of the art compact simulator to live the race at its best,” according to Pierre Gasly.
Simulators are nothing new. They’re well-known for gaming and sim racing. You can often go to racing events around the world and try them out, but it’s normally on a small screen and they’re a cheap set-up designed for the general public.
Jonathan Mareschal says RS Simulation wants to offer people more than a game from a simulator experience. “Since 2013, RS Simulation Monaco has developed professional simulators for professional racing teams, and as the general public cannot access anything like this, we aim to provide them with a taste of real racing with luxurious finishing,” says Mareschal.
The focus of RS Simulation’s engineers is therefore to deliver the most accurate feedback to the driver, with components as close as possible to those used in the racing world, or even actual racing parts.
“What we’re trying to do is close the gap between virtual and reality,” adds Mareschal. “The public can try our cutting-edge SectorOne tubular frame (like a real roll cage), the finest Dbox Haptic motion platform with a professional hydraulic pedal box system, one of the best steering wheel’s available, and a carbon fiber racing seat in a single-seater position.”
And this is where the partnership with Bond comes in, creating something unique and special within the Principality of Monaco. “One thing that is very important on a simulator is graphics. You need to be as immersed as possible,” says Mareschal. “So, this immersion is critical and here the idea is ultra-innovative. It’s like a laboratory with Samsung’s technology, with The Wall. You don’t usually find simulators with this size screen.”
There is a reason for that: the logistical challenge of bringing together the two elements cannot be underestimated. Trent Sprules, managing director of iCrew Services, is used to installing simulators at events such as the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, but setting it up in a small lounge in Monaco provided a unique set of challenges. “Getting the simulator in here, up the narrow stairs, is quite a challenge,” he explains.
Key to this project is the idea of creating an “experience”. It is one thing to have the tools, but maximising their potential is the important part. Faimatea has already formulated plans to attract clients not just from Monaco, but beyond.
“It’s something that wasn’t previously available in Monaco,” began Faimatea. “So, it’s about increasing exposure in Monaco, and also bringing in outside companies for corporate events; to experience Monaco with staff and management teams, try the simulator and have some competitive fun; see who gets the best time in the company, for example.”
The competitive element is a key ingredient to the project, and could manifest itself in a type of “Monaco Cup” where clients compete to record the best times. “The idea is to have the best drivers and personalities in Monaco come here, to enjoy it and think for example: Pierre Gasly or Mika Häkkinen has set such a flying lap time. I have the opportunity now to challenge them,” says Mareschal.
More broadly speaking, the addition of the simulator to the Samsung Lounge is about creating a more interactive event. Clients have long since been used to visiting the lounge to watch sporting events, for example the F1 races, but that is about to change, starting with this weekend’s Spanish GP.
“The simulator brings so much added value to the event. When you watch an F1 race, you stay passive, but here the VIP can become active. They are part of it. It’s interactive,” says Mareschal.
“The idea is that you come in before the official race, do a couple of time trials on the track, and then watch the race live on The Wall with the memory of having just driven it,” adds Faimatea.
And that is the key to this synergy event, this perfect marriage of Monegasque businesses. By coming together, pooling their respective expertise, they are creating a new experience in the Principality, one that is unique and interactive and, with the introduction of the “Monaco Cup”, potentially highly competitive.
A record-busting 15 teams are now signed up for the 2022 edition of the Riviera Water Bike Challenge charity event, organised by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation to support their water safety programme for children in Sri Lanka. Here’s who will be battling it out this year.
The Rivera Water Bike Challenge (RWBC) has a new format this year and has managed to attract a huge number of participants, including many celebrity names, all for a good cause.
The last edition saw racers journey from Calvi, Corsica, to the Principality. This year, the race will be set up so spectators can enjoy all the fun from the Solarium of the Digue Rainier III from 10am Sunday 5th June as participants do a relay race in the Port of Monaco.
The teams will depart from the Yacht Club of Monaco and will run the set course of approximately 25 kilometres.
A draw held on 18th May at the Yacht Club of Monaco selected two celebrities to be part of each of the 15 teams competing. They are as follows:
Team Serenity, winning team from 2018 and already drawn, with Mark Webber, David Tanner, Terence Parkin and Caleb Ewan
Team Yacht Club de Monaco – with Pernilla Wiberg and Sofiane Boukichou
Team Mareterra – with Dan Luger and Kaiden Keyser
Team Special Olympics – with Gustavo Menezes and Cesc Fabregas
Team AMAO (Monegasque Association of Olympic Athletes) – with Jack Doohan and Victoria Silvstedt
Team AS Monaco FC – with Andrew Cotton and Bryan Habana
Team Lionheart – with Paula Radcliffe and Boris Vain
Team Monaco Cavaliers – with Kevin Crovetto and Egan Bernal
Team Interpadel – with Dee Bost and Bjorn Maaseide
Team Blitz – with Marco Holzer and Mika Häkkinen
Team U Cignale – with Dakota Schuetz and Filippo Pozzato
Team CMB – with Antti Vierula and Alexandra Bilodeau
Team Orestes – with Pierre Frolla and Muriel Hurtis
Team Metabolic Balance – with Marlene Harnois and Rudy Rinaldi
Team Beefbar – with Jérôme Fernandez and Frederik Paulsen
The public will be able to follow the race in real-time on a dedicated feed found at www.fpcm.mc/live.
Proceeds from the event will go to fund the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s ‘Swim for Safety’ project in Sri Lanka to teach swimming and water safety to disadvantaged children leading up to the next World Conference on Drowning Prevention in 2023.
Photo by Michael Alesi, Government Communication Department
Fans and club in unison as AS Monaco’s final challenge awaits
Players and supporters alike revelled in the “good vibes” during an open training session at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday, as AS Monaco prepare for their final game of the Ligue 1 season.
Prior to Wednesday’s session, the club recognised the unwavering support of the fan groups as they were presented with the new AS Monaco 2022/23 home kit by owner Dimitry Rybolovlev before last Saturday’s match against Brest.
The 18 fan groups, from all across France and even Italy, are what give Monaco their motto “Everywhere. Always.”. The groups are largely responsible for the club filling the away ends matches across the country, and they will do so once more before the season’s end.
In under a day, Monaco sold their 1,000-seat allocation for the trip to RC Lens on Saturday, where just a draw will suffice to earn them a place on the Ligue 1 podium. For those who don’t have the opportunity to make the trip up north, there is an exciting alternative right here in the Principality.
A giant screen will be erected in front of the Pésage stand of the Stade Louis II, which will broadcast the game live. It will be a spectacular open-air cinema experience, with the stadium’s iconic arches towering above the screen. With qualification for the Champions League on the line, there is bound to be a great atmosphere in a stand that is usually inhabited by the club’s Ultras group.
Tickets for the event can be bought at www.billeterie.asmonaco.com, or from the Stade Louis II ticket office. Access is free for season ticket holders, whilst general admission will cost just €5. VIP access is available for €70 (without tax), and can be bought by contacting gmotyka@asmonaco.com.
Fans can arrive from 8pm and a whole host of pre-match, half-time and post-match activities have been planned, and mascot Bouba will also be in attendance.
Before making the trip, fans descended on the stadium on Wednesday to attend an opening training session. On a hot day in the Principality, nearly 300 fans came to watch the likes of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Wissam Ben Yedder prepare for the big fixture. There was no shortage of determination and effort from the players, but all of them still mustered the energy to engage with fans after the session as they posed for pictures, chatted and signed autographs.
As Tchouaméni and Youssouf Fofana revealed post-session, not only was this a great event to allow fans to feel even closer to the club, it was also beneficial for the players themselves. “They’ve given us energy and good vibes,” said Fofana. “It’s a pleasure to train in front of the public.”
Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life
Revealed: the A-listers to be honoured at Monaco Streaming Film Festival
Some of Hollywood’s biggest names will be given accolades at the upcoming Monaco Streaming Film Festival’s Gala Awards ceremony, the only festival that is solely focused on video-on-demand content.
The 2nd Monaco Streaming Film Festival, running from 31st May to 2nd June at the Grimaldi Forum, is presenting a grand finale with the Streaming Awards Gala on Friday 3rd June at Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel.
The gala will feature some of Tinseltown’s biggest names, including Avatar writer and director James Cameron, who will be receiving the Reg Grundy Innovation Award, Bond-series producer Barbara Broccoli, celebrities Jeff Fahey, Victoria Smurfit, Mark Wahlberg, and Patricia Arquette, to name but a few.
As reported on by Monaco Life in April, the event, created by Tony Davis, is a powerful forum for the streaming content community, giving players a chance to network, communicate more easily and learn about the latest opportunities in this not-so-niche part of the entertainment industry.
Additionally, there will be free premieres and screenings to highlight some of the newest offerings in the streaming content world. Upward of a hundred films will be presented over the three-day period, made up of 20 feature length offerings and 80 shorts. There are also three black tie premiere evenings, which require advance tickets and include a cocktail event preceding the screening.
The festival itself will have a series of summits, conferences, keynotes and panel discussions with people in the know in video-on-demand (VOD) production and distribution, including talks on the future of Ad-based VOD (AVOD), Subscription VOD (SVOD) and Transactional VOD (TVOD) models.
The yearly urban painting event once known as UPAW is back in Monaco with a new name and a clear mission to support the Prince Albert Foundation and promote street art around the world.
Held from 17th to 20th June, the 6th annual Urban Painting Around the World (UPAW) is back, but with a new name that better encompasses the spirit of the event.
Now called UPAINT, the event is bringing together 14 of the world’s best street artists to create beautiful pieces infused with an air of “coolness”.
The concept was originally the brainchild of Alberto Coleman, who in 2013 saw a live art performance by legendary urban artist Mr One Teas and his partners Los Gringos. This spurred the idea of putting together a multi-day live art show to relay to the world the what street art has evolved into, as well as giving art collectors and enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of this cutting edge type of art.
The event has gone from being entirely artist-focused to becoming more participatory.
“We can tell that it is YOU who brings life to the event. It is about You, the performer, the audience, the collector… this strong connection between painting and you, each one of you – whether the artist, the art lover or a mere spectator – we wanted this “U” and “Paint” to become our message, our name, our identity… U PAINT!” say the organisers on their website. “The UPAW team designed UPAINT to become the new face of each future Festival, to visually symbolise our mission of bringing people together around this incredible form of art and supporting just causes, all around the world. Anywhere we go, the circle will start from YOU, and it will end with PAINT, coming from the most amazing urban painters.”
The tagline supports this enthusiastic message. U Come, U See, U Paint gives an all-inclusive vibe and even will be hosting interactive activities such as the Junior Challenge, which will showcase local secondary school kids’ creativity, an expo of works from previous festivals, and a wall that will let members of the public express their inner street artist.
The last day of the event at 6:30pm will feature an auction by Artcurial where fans can purchase their favourite pieces, in-person and, new this year, remotely by using the online auction space invaluable.com.
This edition will support the Prince Albert II Foundation’s Human-Wildlife Initiative, protecting wildlife in rural and mountainous areas in the South of France.
The UPAINT Monaco 2022 Crew of Artists are Alice Pasquini, Aura Aerosole & OLDHAUS, Bond Truluv, Bordalo II, Buff Monster, Curtis Hylton, Dan Kitchener, Dario Vella, Futura, Mr One Teas, Pez, Spok Brillor, The London Police, and Tim Marsh.
Photo source: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
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