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Monte-Carlo Gala changes things up for 5th edition

by: Cassandra Tanti
28/06/2021

The Prince’s Foundation has announced that its biggest event of the year, the Monte-Carlo Gala, will return this September to a new location – the Prince’s Palace – and for the first time the Princess Charlene Foundation will also benefit from the exclusive fundraiser.
The Monte-Carlo Gala for Planetary Health will this year be marking its fifth edition, but more importantly, it will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
On Thursday 23rd September, the Foundation will gather in Monaco some of the world’s most famous artists and philanthropists for the Principality’s most extravagant night of the year.
Traditionally staged on the terraces of the Opera Garnier, the Monte-Carlo Gala will this year take place at the Prince’s Palace, bringing together the best of all worlds, from science and arts, to cinema and music, inspired by the environmental stewardship of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Photo of the 2018 Monte-Carlo Gala by Philippe Fitte for Tuff Consult

Through the gala’s signature auction, funds are raised to support the Foundation’s critical and comprehensive portfolio of conservation projects – to protect endangered species from the illegal wildlife trade, to expand marine protected areas, to promote renewable energy and resource efficiency in emerging economies, to eliminate deforestation, and to better understand climate change particularly in the polar regions.
Given the illustrious guest list, the annual gala has managed to raise millions for the Foundation and its projects.
But for this exceptional edition, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is joining forces with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation through a series of lots that will be auctioned in support of their efforts to save lives by fighting against drowning and to develop the education of children through the values of sport.
Photo of Princess Charlene and Prince Albert by Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace

The Monte-Carlo Gala auction, led by star auctioneer Simon de Pury, is renowned for offering collectors once-in-a-lifetime experiences, invaluable artworks, memorabilia, stunning bespoke jewelry and more. Many of the lots and experiences are offered by Prince Albert himself.
Meanwhile, each year, the gala honours high-profile personalities in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment for environmental preservation. Previous award recipients are Leonardo Di Caprio, Orlando Bloom, Robert Redford, and Sting.
This year’s gala honourees, event co-chairs and talents will be unveiled in the coming months.
For tickets, visit the website: www.montecarlogala.org
 
 
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Top photo of the 2019 Monte-Carlo Gala by Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace
 
 
 

Call out for projects for Pelegos Initiative

by: Stephanie Horsman
28/06/2021

The Pelagos Sanctuary, a marine territory off the coasts of Monaco, France and Italy, is about to have the weight of several organisations behind it with the introduction of the Pelegos Initiative. All that’s needed now are relevant projects to support.
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the WWF, the IUCN and MedPAN have joined forces to create the Pelagos Initiative in support of the Pelagos Sanctuary.
This marine territory of some 87,500 km2 is just off the coasts of the Principality, France and Italy, and is home to a vast number of marine species, including several marine mammals such as dolphins, fin whales and cachalots. The three nations formed the sanctuary through the signing of the Pelagos Agreement back in November 1999.
The new initiative follows closely the objectives of the Agreement in that it has vowed to promote collaborative studies and activities in the sanctuary area for conservation purposes, to raise awareness, to promote interaction and coordinate joint activities amongst the sanctuary’s various marine protected areas, and to raise funds and launch calls for proposals to implement the above actions.
To this end, the Pelagos Initiative is looking for projects which have the same goals. Selected projects must be ready to get underway by the start of 2022 and must have a project life of a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 36.
The themes of interest to the organisers are projects that demonstrate a knowledge of the ecosystem, species and activities of the region, that are interested in the prevention and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts and pressures, as well as how to manage any emergency situations that arise and that include communication, awareness and involvement of the public and stakeholders.
Potential projects must be located within the Pelagos Sanctuary, cover at least two countries, and their project funding cannot exceed 75% of the total project budget.
The initiative is offering two levels of support. The first ranges from €10,000 to €30,000 for projects with a maximum total budget of €100,000 and a duration of one to two years. The second option offers funding from €50,000 to €70,000 for budgets as high as €300,000 and a two to three year duration.
The date for applications will close on 15th September. The application and more information can be found at https://www.fpa2.org/en/initiatives/the-pelagos-initiative-010
 
 
Photo by Ranea Smith on Unsplash
 
 

How to get your Monaco ‘Health pass’

by: Cassandra Tanti
25/06/2021

Monaco citizens and residents can now apply for the Principality’s version of the ‘Health pass’ to be used throughout Monaco and the EU, with an operational date set for 5th July. Here’s how it works.
Minister of State Pierre Dartout outlined the aim of Monaco’s health pass at a press conference on Thursday, saying, “We made a commitment on one point, among others, that Monegasques and residents would have the health pass at the beginning of July. The objective was to allow Monegasque nationals and residents to travel under the same conditions as all other Europeans even though Monaco is not part of the European Union.”
The Prince’s Government will distribute two types of Health Pass: the Monaco Safe Pass, which is valid in Monaco and France, and the European Health Pass, which will be acknowledged by European Union countries and those with agreements with France and the EU such as Switzerland.

The pass will be in the form of a QR code which can either be photographed, issued on paper or in digital version. It can be used by Monegasque citizens and residents who are fully vaccinated, have received a negative PCR test or have recently recovered from the virus.
Vaccinated or recently recovered people will be able to apply for the pass online at covid.mc from Friday 25th June and it will be emailed out from 5th July.
Those vaccinated after 5th July will receive a sms alerting them that their pass is available. It will be sent via email, or can be collected in paper version from a counter at the Rainier III Auditorium – the new vaccination centre.
A traffic light system will also be in play – showing green for people whose vaccination was completed more than 14 days previously, have a negative PCR test of less than 48 hours, or a certificate of recovery of between 15 days and less than six months.
According to the government, Monaco has been working on developing the pass since March, but were delayed due to a lag time in the European Union. Now the EU has finalised its pass system, Monaco has been able to adapt and is ready for a roll out to the public.
“It was a digital challenge, but today we are going to offer you a system that will make it possible to facilitate, very concretely, the movement of Monegasques and residents,” said Frédéric Genta, the Interministerial Delegate in Charge of the Digital Transition.
 
Photo by Michael Alesi / Government Communication Department
 
 

Monaco's ‘Summer of Dance’

by: Stephanie Horsman
24/06/2021

Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo is celebrating the return of live shows with two summer highlights this July.
To kick off the start of the 2021 edition of ‘L’Été Danse’ (Summer of Dance), the troupe will perform two creations by Mimoza Koike and Julien Guérin, both members of the ballet, from 15th to 17th July. With the full support of Artistic Director Jean-Christophe Maillot, these two young talents will bring their own new ballets to life over the three nights. Koike’s dance spectacle is called Tsunagu, a journey paying tribute to the people and places that shaped her artistic personality and the naturalism and poetry of her choreographic art with music by Iiia Osokin.
Also on the bill is Le temps du Tendre by Guérin with music by Vivaldi, who looks at love through the eyes of the 17th century approach to it. For Guérin, love is one of the “essential reasons for living. Love — true love shared — has always remained the most elusive and unintelligible of emotions. Without it, life is neither possible nor worth living. It is the driving force that moves us, empowers us, embraces us and sometimes even overpowers us. An overwhelming attachment to someone else, sublimated or incarnate.”

Photo of Mimoza Koike’s ‘Tsunagu’ by Takashi Shikama

Next up, from 22nd to 24th July, the dancers will take audiences on a journey to the shores of the Mediterranean with two creations.
The first, In Memorium by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, a former winner of the Nijinsky Award for Emerging Choreographers at the Monaco Dance Forum, was created back in 2004 for the Ballets de Monte-Carlo. This haunting ballet asks audiences to remember those who are no longer with us and will be accompanied by A Filetta, a Corsican musical group who will add their voices to the dancer’s moves.
This is described as “the presence of the dead persisting only through the memories they leave with the living. Some archaic rituals take the form of dances in honour of the dead. This bond between reality and memory is at the heart of In Memoriam.”
The second piece will be Core Meu by Jean-Christophe Maillot, which combines the Apulian Tarantella with classical ballet, an unusual but evocative and joy-filled mix. Antonio Castrignano and Taranta Sounds will accompany the dance.
All shows will be performed at the Grimaldi Forum and all start at 7pm. For tickets and more info, visit the ballets website at www.balletsdemontecarlo.com
 
 
Top photo by Alice Blangero
 

Monaco is getting into the “swing” of summer

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/06/2021

To mark the official start of summer on 21st June, SBM launched its hugely successful ‘Swing Monte-Carlo’ with a programme that combines shows, unique events, ideas for day trips and experiences at SBM resorts.
This year’s theme is ‘Marvellous Gardens’ and the second edition was launched on a beautiful summer’s night around the Place du Casino on Monday. Boutiques on the Promenade Monte-Carlo, a stylish open-air shopping area, stayed open all hours for the occasion, while the Hôtel de Paris hosted a series of ‘Escapes’ including wine tasting from the hotel’s cellars and massages by Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo.

Wine tasting in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo

The highlights of Swing Monte-Carlo 2021 are the Festival of the Sea on 23rd June and the opening of Mada Lounge from the 24th, the summer pop-up venue of Mada One in Place du Casino gardens. Every Thursday until 28th August, Mada Lounge will offer musical nights from 4pm to 10.30pm in a chic Bohemian atmosphere amidst Place du Casino gardens and overlooking the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo.
Meanwhile, the boutiques on Promenade Monte-Carlo are dressing up in ephemeral decorations for the ‘Marvellous Gardens’ theme, with shop windows and pop-up terraces sporting the colours of Swing Monte-Carlo.
‘Marvelous Gardens’ is the theme of this year’s Swing Monte-Carlo, and they’ve also created the perfect spot to take a selfie

For those wishing to get away from it all, SBM is proposing “ways to escape” from breakfast to dinner around variousthemes. ‘Gourmet’ day, for example, starts with breakfast at the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, the mythical brasserie and hub of Monegasque life for 150 years, followed by window shopping on Promenade Monte-Carlo, lunch at Elsa restaurant at Monte-Carlo Beach, and, to kick the night off, an aperitif at the Blue Gin bar at the Monte-Carlo Hotel & Resort. But a gourmet day wouldn’t be complete without a dinner in Monaco’s most prestigious restaurant, the three Michelin starred Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris.
‘Swing Monte-Carlo’ was launched last summer after the first phase of the pandemic as a symbol of renewal and in reference to the hedonistic ‘Swinging 60s’ of London.
 
 
Photos by SBM
 
 

TV Festival draws to a close with high-tech awards ceremony

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/06/2021

Monaco Life was there for the final episode of the 60th Monte-Carlo Television Festival on Wednesday night. Here are the highlights.
It was an evening that marked the end of Monaco’s first major festival since the pandemic began. The public turned out to see celebrities, television stars and A-list personalities walk the red carpet, including Ferrari driver and Monegasque favourite Charles Leclerc who stopped to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.

Photo of Charles Leclerc greeting fans on the red carpet by Monaco Life

Prince Albert, Honorary President of the Television Festival, was joined by his nephew Louis Ducruet and wife Marie for the main event in the theatre of the Grimaldi Forum – the presentation of the Golden Nymph Awards.
Monaco beauty Victoria Silvstedt was one of the first to present an award, rising up to the stage amidst a hologram of golden swirling stars. She presented the PeaceJam Special Jury Prize, sponsored by Monaco-based GEMA Foundation, to Lady Monika Bacardi for the Italian series Bella Da Morire.
Photo of Victoria Silvstedt by Monaco Life

US film Uncle Frank, produced by Miramax and Amazon Studios, was the big winner of the night, taking out Best Film, Best Creation and, for lead actor Paul Bettany, best Actor.
The UK’s It’s a Sin won Best Series, while lead actress Lydia West won Best Actress.
In the news category, ITV News won Best News Coverage for its Inside US Capitol production.
In total there were 14 winners selected from 27 nominated programs from 14 countries across the Prince Rainier III Special Prize, News and Fiction categories as well as a number of accolades including the Monaco Red Cross Prize and the AMADE Prize.
The coveted Crystal Nymph Award, destined for an actor for outstanding work, was presented by Prince Albert to French Tchéky Karyo.
“This 60th Monte-Carlo Television Festival has been a successful edition not only because of the remarkable and diverse talent who have joined us from around the world, but also in regards to the exceptional circumstances of the health crisis surrounding its organisation,” said Prince Albert, Honorary President of the Festival.
In a spectacular display of glitz, glam and technology, award winners who were not able to attend because of travel restrictions were projected on to the stage as holograms.
“I am very proud of the fact that, with the united effort and support of our friends and colleagues, we have managed to organise this exceptional edition of the festival during the global pandemic,” said Laurent Puons, CEO of the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. “A huge thanks to the entire festival’s team who worked tirelessly to make this anniversary memorable. It has been a fantastic five days here in Monaco culminating in an innovative and ground-breaking awards ceremony. The festival prides itself on its modern approach and, in this anniversary year, has truly celebrated the depth and breadth of global television as it continues to adapt and evolve.”