SPRING 2020: THE 27th FESTIVAL OF THE PRINTEMPS DES ARTS DE MONTE-CARLO SHINES AMONG THE MANY EVENTS
by Virginia De Masi
Thursday 5th, Friday 6th, Saturday 7th March, at 8.30 pm and Sunday 8th March 2020 at 4.30 pm THÉÂTRE DES MUSES –45, BOULEVARD DU JARDIN EXOTIQUE – “Frida”, a play by Céline Bernat
From Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th March 2020, BAIE DE MONACO – MONACO SPORTSBOAT WINTER SERIES ACT V – J/70 & Melges 20, organised by the Yacht Club de Monaco
From Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th March 2020, MONACO SIAM AT QUAI ALBERT IER -THE MONEGASQUE EVENT SHOWCASING THE FUTURE OF AUTOMOBILES AND MOBILITY – For the 4th edition of this unique automotive event, visitors will be able to discover in a refined and exclusive atmosphere in the Principality of Monaco the latest automotive technologies and innovations: from the electric urban car to the most luxurious models, including concept cars, prototypes, sports and prestige cars or hypercars, innovative equipment and technologies, charging systems, applications, connectivity, etc. The Monaco SIAM is the futuristic Monaco capsule where you can discover a world of impressive technologies and see, touch, prepare and buy your car or the mobility of tomorrow. The automotive lifestyle, driving pleasure and freedom through mobility rhyme more than ever with technologies, new energies, and performance. To know: Thursday March 5th: 11 a.m. – 8 pm Friday March 6th: 12 pm – 8 pm Saturday March 7: 10 am – 6 pm. Sunday March 8th: from 10 am to 6 pm – Price 15 €, free for children under 10 years old. PRM ticket on site only.
Friday 6th and Saturday 7th March 2020, at 8.30 pm SALLE DES PRINCES DU GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO – “TANGO FIRE” SHOW –The Grimaldi Forum is adorned with Argentine colors through a show performed by tango masters from straight from Buenos Aires. Authentic show for all unconditional, Tango Fire is led by the international superstar German Cornejo and stages the greatest dancers and musicians of tango. Tango Fire embodies and sublimates this sensual and steamy dance accompanied by the unforgettable music by the great masters Piazzolla, Pugliese and Gardel. Combining the harshness and sophistication of nocturnal Buenos Aires, German Cornejo and his very sensual partner Gisela Galeassi are accompanied byan exceptional team of dancers from the biggest tango houses from the capital of Argentina. The art of Argentine tango has never been so superb and dynamic!! Places from 39 € (student rate at from € 19.50) Grimaldi Forum ticket office +377 99 99 30 00 or Online booking
Sunday 8th March 2020, from 12 pm to 4.30 pm LE MÉRIDIEN BEACH PLAZA – SALON ATLANTIQUE – INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY “OPEN TASTING WINES & SPIRITS”: “WOMEN AND WINE-MAKING AROUND THE WORLD” – AN OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS TASTING for celebrating the end of the 2020 international wine and spirit competition season, an “Open Tasting Wines Special” is organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day. This event will be the opportunity to discuss key points around the theme “Women and the Vine and Wine Professions international. “The general public is therefore invited to come and meet women oenologists, sommeliers, buyers, wine journalists but also to taste the wines andspirits awarded in competitions. Around a cocktail, prepared by the famous Chef LaurentColin, visitors can chat with international wine and spirits experts. Cultural events will be organized throughout this event. A raffle is also planned to benefit the “Fight” association Aids Monaco”chaired by S.A.S. Princess Stéphanie working for women with AIDS. Post-competition event to help producers, importers and distributors to enhance their products and their export activity through official recognition by professionals in the international sector.Provide an answer to the 80% of New Consumers and Millennials awaiting a message on wine and spirits by offering them international references.
Encourage and highlight the role of women and their professions in the world of vine and wine internationally but also that of Gastronomy, Rosé Wine and Wine Tourism (Terroir). Prestigious guests will attend:The association “The Grand Cordon d’Or of French Cuisine in Monaco “, represented by Mr. Gilles BRUNNER, its president, will be present for this celebration. At this occasion, some international tasters will be inducted into this prestigious brotherhood. Are equally expected the Monaco Association of Sommeliers represented by Dominique MILARDI, President and the Associazione Maestri Italiani Ristoranti ed Alberghi (AMIRA) of Monaco, its President Antonio FOCHI but also members of Associations Women and Wines of the World and Inter Concours du Monde, of the Club de la Presse 83, professional artists and amateurs, tasters partners and student partners. Le Méridien Beach Plaza – Atlantic Lounge By reservation only. Limited places Open: General Public, Men and women, Wine Professionals and media Organization: Associations “Women and Wines ofWorld “/” Inter Concours du Monde ” Price: entry 50 € / person (Entry – Finger Lunch Cocktail and wine tasting andof award-winning and selected spirits) – Raffle ticket: € 10
Until March 15th 2020 CAR COLLECTION OF H.S.H. THE PRINCE OF MONACO – FONTVIEILLE TERRACES – During this unprecedented exhibition, around fifty competition cars, the most emblematic of the discipline, some of which display a prestigious prize list, and which have made millions of fans dream on French and international roads, will be reunited in the Principality for three months.Visitors will notably be able to discover and admire the following models: PEUGEOT 205 TURBO 16 EVOLUTION 2 group B. This authentic racing car won the Swedish rally in 1986 at the hands of Juha KANKKUNEN when it first appeared in the world championship.LANCIA DELTA HF 4WD group B.This LANCIA is the one that arrived 3rd at the San Remo rally with Massimo BIASION and 2nd at the RAC rally with Markku ALEN in 1986. In 1987, the Delta HF 4WD achieved a double from the inaugural rally of Monte-Carlo (Miki BIASION in front of Juha KANKKUNEN).TOYOTA CELICA TURBO 4WD group B and group A.
This car presented is the one with which Juha KANKKUNEN competed in the Hong Kong / Beijing rally in 1985.MITSUBISHI LANCER EVO 3 group A.This Mitsubishi ex Tommi MAKINEN is the one with which he won the rally of Finland in 1996, the year of his first title of world champion.CITROËN XSARA WRC.In the hands of Sébastien LOEB, his co-driver Daniel ELENA and their teammates, it totaled 32 victories, 3 titles of constructors’ world champions and as many world champions of pilots and co-pilots. CITROËN DS3 WRC. She won the 2011 and 2012 World Rally Championship, winning twenty times in two years, securing the ninth titles for Sébastien LOEB and his co-driver Daniel ELENA, as well as a seventh title for Citroën. LANCIA 037 CHARDONNET preparation. Lancia was represented in France by its independent importer André CHARDONNET. He had set up a very efficient competition department, enlisting the help of Jean-Claude ANDRUET, perhaps the most talented French rally driver of the time. The 037 was able to impose itself in Group B by offering Lancia a world title in 1983. RENAULT 5 MAXI TURBO. Produced between 1980 and 1986, the Renault 5 Turbo is today a true French icon. As soon as it entered the track, the R5 Turbo demonstrated surprising rallying agility and capabilities that would allow Jean RAGNOTTI to win numerous victories, including the French Rally Championship, the Monte-Carlo rally, the Tour de Corse, among others .SUBARU IMPREZA WRC.The one presented is the 2001 world rally champion driven by the Englishman Richard BURNS.FORD FOCUS WRC. This Ford Focus is the one driven by Carlo SAINZ, double world champion in 1990 and 1992. More info +377 92 05 28 56
8 March at 7 pm – CECILIA BARTOLI & ALEXANDER GADJIEV CONCERT- MONTE-CARLO OPERA – CONCERT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MISSION ENFANCE – More info to book Contact the Association of Friends of the Opera by email or by phone at +377 92 16 08 22 – (No reservation can be taken into account without the collection of your payment.) Bank transfer (MC58 1273 9000 7006 0826 0000 032 – BIC: CFMOMCMXXXX), payable to “Les Amis de l’Opéra / Mission Enfance” Bank check, payable to “Les Amis de l’Opéra”, addressed to: FRIENDS OF THE OPERA Palais de la Scala – 1, avenue Henri Dunant, 98000 MONACO. Reservations can also be made via the ticket office of the Monte-Carlo Opera (open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.). Payments can be made in cash or by credit card directly at the counter or by telephone (98 06 28 28) or by sending a check (order Service location Opéra de Monte-Carlo). All of your donations will be donated to Mission Enfance by the Amis de l’Opéra and the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
12e March, 2020, from 7 pm to 9 pm – THÉÂTRE DES VARIÉTÉS – Les Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco presents a lecture on the topic “The urgency of time – Political time”, with Marie Garrau and Judith Revel, philosophers, introduced by Raphael Zagury-Orly, founder member
12e and 13th March 2020, from 10 am to 5 pm – OCEANOGRAPHIC MUSEUM OF MONACO –“TAKING ACTION FOR HERITAGE” is the powerful theme chosen by Elisabeth Bréaud for the 10th International Monaco and the Mediterranean Meeting. This symposium will bring together at the Oceanographic Museum, historians, philosophers, archaeologists as well as architects, personalities from the political world and from civil society who will present their actions on the ground and their most recent achievements in terms of conservation, reconstruction and rehabilitation. Open to the public, the meetings are intended to bring together every two years experts from all walks of life to reflect on the major contemporary challenges of the Mediterranean region and propose possible solutions. Over the years, several major themes have been addressed during these symposia, including Mediterranean cities, archaeological sites, fresh water … the latter having been devoted to artists and intellectuals.
This year, Prince Albert II, who gives his high patronage to these meetings, will officially open the symposium and present the 2020 RIMM prize while Audrey Azoulay, Director General of Unesco, and Xavier Darcos, Chancellor of the Institute of France and former Minister of National Education, will deliver the inaugural conferences, the presentation of the symposium returning to Mounir Bouchenaki, honorary president of the RIMMs and former Assistant Director General for Culture at Unesco. The symposium will revolve around several round tables. Program Information: +377 97 70 65 27
13th March, 2020, at 8 pm – THÉÂTRE DES VARIÉTÉS -THE ART OF THE CINEMA – screening of the film “Halfaouine Child of the Terraces” by Ferid Boughedir, organized by the audiovisual Institute of Monaco, in the presence of the filmmaker, in partnership with the Rencontres Internationales Monaco et la Méditerranée
13th March, 2020, at 8.30 pm – AUDITORIUM RAINIER III – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: concert by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Kazuki Yamada with Véronique Gens, soprano. On the program: Ernest Chausson. Prelude by Olivier Baumont, harpsichord. On the program: Maurice Ohana. At 7.30 pm, official opening of the Inuit art exhibition
13th March, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 pm PRINCESS GRACE IRISH LIBRARY – LECTURE IN ENGLISH “IRISH PHILOSOPHY IN THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT”, by Katherine O’Donnell, Lecturer in the History of Ideas in the Department of Philosophy at University College Dublin by Joseph Cohen, philosopher and founding member of the Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco organized by the Rencontres Philosophiques de Monaco, in partnership with Princess Grace Irish Library and University College Dublin- For more info Contact by phone 377 99994455
From Friday 13 March to Saturday 11 April 2020 – FESTIVAL OF THE PRINTEMPS DES ARTS DE MONTE-CARLO – PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO – MUSIC, THEATER, CINEMA AND DANCE. Founded in 1970 at the instigation of Princess Grace, the festival takes place over five weeks every spring. The Festival returns with a program combining music, dance, cinema, theater and painting. Overview of the 2020 program of one of the principal art festivals in the Principality: Friday March 13 at 7:30 p.m .: Inauguration of the exhibition “Games and songs from the Inuit throat of Arctic Quebec” (Rainier III Auditorium) – From Friday 13 March to Saturday 11 April 2020, daily (except Mondays), from 2 pm to 8 pm, and on concert evenings, Auditorium Rainier III Monte-Carlo Spring Arts Festival: new exhibition of Inuit art inspired by katajjaniq on the theme “Games and Throat-Songs of the Inuit People of Arctic Quebec” by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, with the support of the Avataq-Nunavik Cultural Institute (Arctic Quebec) – at 8:30 p.m: Inaugural concert by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kazuki Yamada and with the soprano Véronique Gens (Rainier III Auditorium) – Saturday March 14 at 6.30 pm: Lecture by musicologist Nicolas Southon on four composers: Aubert, Decaux, Ferroud and Samazeuilh (Amphitheater of One Monte-Carlo) at 8:30 pm: Concert by pianist Aline Piboule who will play pieces by Aubert, Decaux, Ferroud and Samazeuilh (Opéra Garnier) – Sunday March 15 – Surprise trip, departure from Nice (in front of the Maison du Département de Nice, avenue des Phocéens) and departure from Monaco (Stade Louis II, Riviera Marriott Hotel side) –
Wednesday March 18 at 6.30 pm: Lecture by musicologist Annick Dubois “Awakening and development of the French violin in the Baroque age: Jean-Féry Rebel (1666-1747) and Jean-Marie Leclair (1697-1794)” (Oceanographic Museum) – at 8:30 pm Baroque concert under the direction of Patrick Cohën-Akenine, with Olivier Baumont on the harpsichord, Hae-Sun Kang on the modern violin, Patrick Cohën-Akenine on the baroque violin and the baroque orchestra the Folies Françoises (Oceanographic Museum) – Thursday March 19 at 8:30 pm at the Oceanographic Museum – Concert by the Modigliani Quartet with Sayaka Shoji on violin, Nicholas Angelich on piano, Olivier Baumont on harpsichord. Work of composers Thierry Pécou, Camille Saint-Saëns and Ernest Chausson – Friday March 20 at 6.30 pm at the Oceanographic Museum – Lecture by musicologist Jean-Claire Vançon “From dance to character: the subtle art of the French harpsichord” – at 8:30 pm Harpsichord concert by Olivier Baumont. Work by composers Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, Louis Couperin, François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Claude Balbastre. Saturday March 21 at Opéra Garnier at 11:30 am: Meeting with Andreas Staier, harpsichordist, led by musicologist David Christoffel – from 2 p.m to 5 pm Master-class with Andreas Staier 8:30 pm Concert by harpsichordist Pierre Hantaï who will play pieces by Louis and François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Antoine Forqueray, Jacques Duphly and Claude Balbastre – at the Oceanographic Museum – Sunday March 22 at 6 pm at Salle des arts, One Monte-Carlo – Concert by harpsichordist Andreas Staier who will play pieces by Jean-Henri d’Anglebert, François and Louis Couperin, Jean-François Dandrieu and Antoine Forqueray – Wednesday March 25 at 6 pm at the Rainier iII Auditorium – Concert by students of the Rainier III Academy and neighboring conservatories who will play songs by Gérard Pesson – Thursday March 26 at Monaco Tech from 9 am to 12 pm: Workshop “Music, navigation and volume: a new writing of sound spaces” by Zack Settel and Luc Martinez – at 8:30 pm at Salle des Etoiles, Sporting d’été – Conference “Quebec between memory and modernity” by Denise Bombardier, journalist and writer followed by a show by Compagnie Cas Public, a mixture of dance, music and theater, with Beethoven’s 9th symphonic as the musical theme. Friday March 27 from 9 am to 12pm at Monaco Tech – Workshop “Music, navigation and volume: a new writing of sound spaces” by Zack Settel and Luc Martinez – At 6 pm Screening of the film Les Belles-Sœurs by Michel Tremblay, René Richard Cyr and Daniel Bélanger at the Amphitheater, One Monte-Carlo – At 8:30 pm at Salle Empire, Hôtel de Paris – Concert of the Ensemble Masques conducted by harpsichordist Olivier Fortin. Works by Jean-Sébastien Bach.
17th March, 2020, at 8.30 pm – RAINIER III AUDITORIUM – SPECIAL CONCERT IN TRIBUTE TO PRINCESS GRACE, by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Colman Pearce with Frankie Gavin, violin. On the program: Princess Grace Symphonic Suite by Frankie Gavin
18th March 2020, at 8.30 pm – MUSÉE OCÉANOGRAPHIQUE DE MONACO – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: Concert by Les Folies Françoises (baroque orchestra) conducted by Patrick Cohën-Akenine, baroque violin and Hae-Sun Kang, modern violin. On the programme: Jean-Féry Rebel, Jean-Marie Leclair, Pierre Boulez and Yan Maresz. As a prelude to the concert, Olivier Baumont, harpsichord. On the programme: Tōru Takemitsu. At 6.30 pm at the Musée Océanographique: talk on the topic “The Awakening and Growth of the French Violin in the Baroque Period: Jean-Féry Rebel and Jean-Marie Leclair” by Annick Dubois, musicologist
18th March 2020, at 8 pm – GRIMALDI FORUM MONACO – 15TH SÉRÉNISSIMES DE L’HUMOUR 2020 – comedy festival with Kheiron, organised by Monaco Live Production in partnership with Rire et Chansons and the Grimaldi Forum Monaco
19th March 2020, at 8.30 pm – MUSÉE OCÉANOGRAPHIQUE DE MONACO – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: Concert by the Quatuor Modigliani with Sayaka Shoji, violin and Nicholas Angelich, piano. On the programme: Camille Saint-Saëns and Ernest Chausson. As a prelude to the concert, Olivier Baumont, harpsichord. On the programme: Thierry Pécou.
20th March 2020, at 8.30 pm – AUDITORIUM RAINIER III -CONCERT BY THE MONTE-CARLO PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA conducted by Philippe Béran with Nicola Beller Carbone, soprano. On the programme: David Anthony Randall
20th March 2020, at 8.30 pm – MUSÉE OCÉANOGRAPHIQUE DE MONACO – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: concert by Olivier Baumont, harpsichord. On the programme: Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, Louis Couperin, François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau and Claude Balbastre. At 6.30 pm, talk on the topic “From dance to character piece: the subtle art of the French harpsichord” by Jean-Claire Vançon, musicologist
From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March 2020 – BAIE DE MONACO – SPRING CHALLENGE SMERALDA 888, ORGANISED BY THE YACHT CLUB DE MONACO –
Saturday 21 March 2020, at 8 pm – THÉÂTRE DES VARIÉTÉS – “N’OUBLIEZ PAS LUCIO DALLA” (“Don’t Forget Lucio Dalla”), a tribute to Lucio Dalla with Valentino Corvino, composer and violinist, Roberta Giallo, singer-songwriter, and Ernesto Assante, music critic, organised by Dante Alighieri Monaco
Saturday 21 March 2020, at 8:30 pm – LE SPORTING MONTE-CARLO – SALLE DES ETOILES – ROSE BALL
21st March 2020, at 8.30 pm – MUSÉE OCÉANOGRAPHIQUE DE MONACO – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: concert by Pierre Hantaï, harpsichord. On the programme: Louis Couperin, François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Antoine Forqueray, Jacques Duphly and Claude Balbastre. From 2 pm to 5 pm, Masterclass with Andreas Staier, harpsichord. At 11.30 am, Café de la Rotonde, Opéra Garnier: Talk with Andreas Staier, harpischord, led by musicologist David Christoffel.
22nd March, at 3 pm, Tuesday 24th (gala), Thursday 26th, Saturday 28th March, at 8 pm- OPÉRA DE MONTE-CARLO – SALLE GARNIER – “LE COMTE ORY” (“COUNT ORY”) BY GIOACHINO ROSSINI with Maxim Mironov, Cecilia Bartoli, Deanna Breiwick, Florian Sempey, Nahuel DiPierro, Liliana Nikiteanu, the Chorus of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and Les Musiciens du Prince-Monaco ensemble, conducted by Gianluca Capuano, organised by the Opéra de Monte-Carlo
22nd to Saturday 28th March 2020 – PRINCIPAUTÉ DE MONACO – 4TH MONACO OCEAN WEEK – press conferences, workshops, symposiums, colloquiums, awards ceremonies, exhibitions, screenings of documentary films and awareness-raising workshops, to promote the preservation of the oceans.
25th March 2020, at 6 pm – AUDITORIUM RAINIER III – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: “Concert des Conservatoires” by the students of the Académie Rainier III and neighbouring conservatoires. On the programme: works by Gérard Pesson
25th March 2020, at 7 pm – MÉDIATHÈQUE DE MONACO – SONOTHÈQUE JOSÉ NOTARI – As part of the “2020, Year of the Comic Strip” Popcorn Cinema: programme: “Les vécés étaient fermés de l’intérieur” (“The Toilets Were Closed From The Inside”) by Patrice Leconte (1976)
26th March 2020, at 8.30 pm – LE SPORTING MONTE-CARLO – SALLE DES ETOILES – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: Québec opening night with Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, performed by Cas Public, in close collaboration with the artistic department of Société des Bains de Mer. As a prelude to the performance, there will be a lecture on the topic “Quebec between memory and modernity”, by Denise Bombardier,
26th mars 2020, YACHT CLUB DE MONACO – GRANDE PLAISANCE : YCM EXPLORER AWARDS BY LA BELLE CLASSE SUPERYACHTS
26th March and 27th March 2020, from 9 am to 12 pm MONACOTECH – FONTVIEILLE – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: workshop on the theme “Music, navigation, and volumetrics: rewriting aural space” by Zack Settel and Luc Martinez, coaches. You will discover how to use WalkThruMusic, an augmented reality app for an immersive musical experience application
27th March 2020, at 6 pm – AMPHITHÉÂTRE – ONE MONTE-CARLO – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: screening of “Belles-soeurs” (“Unmanageable Sisters”) by Montreal playwright Michel Tremblay, in partnership with the Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation for contemporary creative art
27th mars 2020 at 8 pm – THÉÂTRE PRINCESSE GRACE – WORLD THEATER DAY – organized by the Monegasque National Commission for UNESCO
27th March 2020, at 8:30 pm – hotel de paris monte-carlo – salle empire monte-carlo spring arts festival: concert by the Masques Ensemble conducted by Olivier Fortin, Quebecois harpsichordist, with Maïlys de Villoutreys, soprano, Vincent Lièvre-Picard, tenor, and Marcel Raschke, bass. On the programme: Johann Sebastian Bach
28th March 2020, at 4 pm – LYCÉE TECHNIQUE ET HÔTELIER DE MONACO – AUDITORIUM – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: talk on the topic “The Montreal Society for Arts and Technology, 25 Years of 360° Innovation” by Monique Savoie, President and Founder of the S.A.T.
28th March 2020, at 8.30 pm – HÔTEL DE PARIS MONTE-CARLO – SALLE EMPIRE – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: Concerts. Part one: Hélène Guilmette, soprano and Martin Dubé, piano. On the programme: Augusta Holmès, Marguerite Canal, Pauline Viardot, Gabriel Fauré, Achille Fortier, Emiliano Renaud, Lionel Daunais. Part two: Traditional Inuit songs, in collaboration with the Avataq – Nunavik Cultural Institute (Quebec). At 6.30 pm, in the Salon Prince Jacques 1er: talk on the topic “Throat singing of the Inuit women of Quebec” by Jean-Jacques Nattiez, ethnomusicologist
Sunday 29th March 2020, at 11.30 am – OPÉRA DE MONTE-CARLO – CAFÉ DE LA ROTONDE – MONTE-CARLO SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL: talk with Marc-André Hamelin, piano, led by musicologist David Christoffel
Until April 3rd 2020 – CATHÉDRALE DE MONACO – 4, RUE COLONEL BELLANDO DE CASTRO – RUSSIAN ICONS – Monaco cathedral is hosting an exhibition of embroidered Russian icons, along with other contemporary or antique icons.This exhibition will present 24 unique works created at the Prikosnovénié workshop. As the organizers recall, “the history of the art of embroidery of orthodox icons set with precious stones executed with gold thread goes back to the deepest of centuries, at the time of the reign of the last Byzantine princess in Russia . Russian embroiderers, including representatives of families of czars and great princes, have had great notoriety all over the world”. But this tradition was abandoned in the 1917 revolution before being revived by the artist Natalia Gorkovenko and her studio in Moscow. The Prikosnovénié workshop, for over 15 years, has been developing these ancient traditions of embroidery and decoration of icons. All works are executed in the technique of ornamental needle painting and hand embroidery. The icons are set with precious and semi-precious stones: rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tourmaline, citrines, pomegranates … Crystal, pearls, gold thread, mother-of-pearl are also used.In the chapels of the cathedral’s peristyle, visitors will be able to discover this exhibition of embroidered icons but also masterpieces of orthodox painted icons. Among these, contemporaries such as “The Holy Devote” or “The Holy Royal Martyrs” or the representation of the family of the last Tsar Nicholas II but also older icons. The curator of this exhibition is Countess Natalia Valevskaya Savoretti while the general sponsor of the project is the association “Paroisse des Saints Martyrs Royaux à Monaco”.
