Concerts and shows put art and culture in the spotlight this summer in Monaco
A number of shows are planned at Fort Antoine - © Communication Department
The Department of Cultural Affairs presented its rich summer programme.
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It’s shaping up to be an artistic summer in the Principality. The event kicked off on 31 May, to mark the centenary of Prince Rainier III. The sculpture trail in honour of the Prince – complete with explanatory QR codes – and the “Rainier III, le Prince Bâtisseur” (The Builder Prince) exhibition are therefore an integral part of the programme. The exhibition was curated by Stéphane Bern and Christian Curau, architect/curator at the Prince’s Palace.
The “Rainier III, le Prince Bâtisseur” exhibition will open on 20 July and run until 31 December in the Exhibition Hall on Quai Antoine I. “The scenography was entrusted to two young people from the Ecole Supérieure d’Art, in accordance with the wishes of the Rainier III Committee and the Princely Family in particular,” said Françoise Gamerdinger, Director of Cultural Affairs, who presented the summer season alongside Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior.
M. Burle pointed out what an important part the summer season plays in the Principality’s cultural policy, then Françoise Gamerdinger detailed the events that will make up “a sparkling summer”.
The Organ Festival will pay tribute to Prince Rainier III
Also planned, the 18th Monaco International Organ Festival The Cultural Affairs Department and Olivier Vernet, resident organist of Monaco Cathedra’s grand organ, have devised a series of concerts to give the public a different approach to the organ, rather than it being confined to a purely religious role.
The Festival starts on 25 June with a concert in tribute to Prince Rainier III in the Cathedral. To mark the occasion, and for the first time in the Principality, the Maîtrise de Notre-Dame de Paris will be present for a breathtaking concert, where the organ, played by Olivier Vernet, Yves Castagnet and Jean-Cyrille Gandillet (both resident organists of the choir organ at Notre-Dame de Paris and Monaco Cathedral respectively), will be complemented by the performances of two soloists from the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Exceptional soloists at that, with violinist Zhang Zhang and cellist Alexandre Fougeroux.
The concert will include rare works, found in the Palace Archives and created especially for Prince Rainier’s christening, accession to the throne and wedding.
Also not to be missed: “Les Femmes invisibles” (The Unseen Women) on 2 July, when American organist Joy-Leilani Garbutt will come to the Cathedral to play works by women, including Monegasque composer Marie-Vera Maixandeau (1929-2018).
Another Festival highlight is “Le Grand Voyage” orchestrated by Baptiste Genniaux and Vincent Dubus, on 6 July at Fort Antoine, where children from the age of six can discover the organ.
Organist Shin-Young Lee will also be on hand, as at the closing event of F(ê)aites de la Danse. The artist will be performing works by Camille Saint-Saëns, including excerpts from his famous Carnival of the Animals.
The Festival will conclude with a duet between soprano Jeanne Bernier and organist Gabriel Marghieri. They will celebrate the Virgin Mary, blending Gregorian chants with the powerful instrument.
Programme:
- Sunday 25 June, 6pm (Monaco Cathedral): Tribute to Prince Rainier III
- Sunday 2 July, 6pm (Monaco Cathedral): Les Femmes Invisibles
- Thursday 6 July, 9.30 pm (Fort Antoine): Le Grand Voyage
- Sunday 9 July, 6pm (Monaco Cathedral): Expressions Impressionnistes
- Sunday 16 July, 6pm (Monaco Cathedral): Ave Maris Stella
- Free admission, open to all
- You will find all the details about the shows on the event website
An eclectic lineup at Fort Antoine
The summer season means open-air theatre! Fort Antoine is planning eight dates between 4 July and 1 August, with a rich and diverse programme.
Luciano Rosso will start proceedings with a cartoon-inspired one-man show where he will be a dancer, clown, contortionist and lipsyncher!
The following week, the Popi Jones company will take to the stage to present La Bombe Humaine (The Human Bomb), a theatrical and musical show tackling the theme of climate change.
And don’t miss Arthur H’s concert, La Vie (Life), a song/film featuring vocals, piano, guitar, drums and cello.
The Department of Cultural Affairs is also planning an open stage for young talent with links to the Principality. Music, theatre or dance: if you’re aged between 18 and 30, just fill in the online form and try your luck on stage!
The end of July will also feature Dans le Cerveau de Maurice Ravel (In Maurice Ravel’s brain), a musical theatre piece portraying the famous composer, who had a neurodegenerative disease.
Also on the bill: another one-man show, Aller sans savoir où (Going who knows where) performed by François Gremaud. A “manifesto show” during which the actor takes the audience behind the scenes of writing a play.
And last but not least, Le Beau Monde (Beautiful World) on 1 August. L’École Parallèle Imaginaire (The Imaginary Parallel School) takes you to the distant future, where the three actors will perform a strange ritual to discover what the 21st century was like..
Programme:
- Tuesday 4 July, 9.30 pm: Apocalipsync
- Thursday 6 July, 9.30 pm: Le Grand Voyage
- Tuesday 11 July, 9.30 pm: La Bombe Humaine
- Friday 14 July, 8.30 pm: Arthur H
- Tuesday 18 July, 9.30 pm: Open stage
- Friday 21 July, 9.30 pm: Dans le cerveau de Maurice Ravel
- Tuesday 25 July, 9.30 pm: Aller sans savoir où
- Tuesday 1 August, 9.30 pm: Le Beau Monde
- Free admission, booking recommended on montecarloticket or at the Théâtre Princesse Grace, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm.