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“Monte-Carlo Opera is the smallest of the great opera houses”

For over 150 years, culture has been part of Monaco’s brand image. by Milena Radoman

“Monaco’s brand image was built with the Singers, musicians and composers all rush Boundless ballet
cultural contribution of the Principality linked there. Even during the First World War, “Puccini,
to the development of Monte-Carlo, from the the greatest living opera composer, created his At the beginning of the 20th century,
end of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th Rondine in Monaco during the war in 1917,” Monaco was home to Diaghilev and his
century. For journalist, Frédéric Laurent, co- Frédéric Laurent tells us. “Legends of opera, like famous Ballets Russes. It was the golden
director and producer of Esultate, the History Chaliapin, the most famous bass of the 20th age with Nijinsky, Lifar and Balanchine.
of Monte-Carlo Opera*, along with his son, century, owe their careers to Monaco – and for Diaghilev encouraged collaboration with
great artists from all walks of life, from
Jérémie, it’s obvious: “Monte-Carlo Opera is the Chaliapin Monte-Carlo was also his swan song.” Igor Stravinsky to Pablo Picasso, as well
smallest of the great operas houses. According Even today, opera singers are very attached to as Henri Matisse and Coco Chanel. The
to historians and music professionals, it’s one Monaco. “For our documentary, we did about 30 company was dissolved on Diaghilev’s
of the greats, along with the Paris Opera, La interviews and all the big current stars say the death in 1929. In 1985, the Compagnie des
Scala in Milan, the MET in New York, the Vienna same: singing at the Salle Garnier is a unique Ballets de Monte-Carlo was created, under
Opera and Covent Garden in London. It is even world experience! Roberto Alagna and Cecilia the direction of Jean-Christophe Maillot.
more important than the operas of great cultural Bartoli even consider that they owe a debt to the The former dancer and choreographer/
capitals such as Rome or Madrid.” Principality, which represents an extraordinary director of the National Choreographic
It all started with the birth of Monte-Carlo. springboard. The former director of Monte- Centre of Tours has created a repertoire of
As part of its remit, the Société des Bains Carlo Opera, John Mordler, sought out Cecilia more than 30 ballets, including Romeo and
de Mer had the obligation “to provide quality Bartoli in 1989 to sing Roselyne in the Barber Juliet, Cinderella, The Taming of the Shrew
entertainment (concerts, theatre, etc)” and an of Seville,” and the rest is history. A regular at and Core Meu. The company regularly
hosts major contemporary choreographers
orchestra was first created in 1856. “Initially, Monte-Carlo, the famous singer, already at the such as Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Emio Greco,
it was a formation of 15 musicians but, 20 head of the Musicians of the Prince, returns in William Forsythe and Jiri Kylian. “Today,
years later, it became a symphony orchestra 2023 to direct it, succeeding Jean-Louis Grinda, the Ballets de Monte-Carlo is one of the
with 80 musicians,” before transforming, with “one of the best opera directors in the world, 10 best companies in the world,” believes
the will of Prince Rainier III, into the Monte- who has been approached to direct the Paris Frédéric Laurent.
Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Interviewed by Opera,” notes Frédéric Laurent.
Léon Zitrone in the 1960s, this music-loving
prince would say that it was his greatest pride.
“Legendary conductors like Victor De Sabata
or Igor Markevitch have led this orchestra,”
observes the journalist/writer.

80 opera premieres between 1890 and 1950
The opera was inaugurated in 1879 by the era’s
two greatest world stars of spoken and musical
theatre: Sarah Bernhardt gave a performance,
as did the opera singer, Caroline Miolan-
Carvalho. The Salle Garnier, with its red and gold © DR
Italianate, Second Empire style, is a miniature Salle Garnier, 1 année
e
replica of the Paris Opera and Monaco became
a hub for great music. “Between 1890 and 1950,
there were 80 opera premieres in Monaco,
as many as at La Scala! The richness of this
artistic creation represents a real contribution
to French and European culture. Ravel wrote
The Child and the Spells for Monte-Carlo Opera,
one of the most important operas of the 20th
century (with a libretto by Colette). Massenet
created seven, including his most famous, Don
Quixote, and Saint-Saëns wrote three,” recalls
Frédéric Laurent. © DR © DR
Fiedor Chaliapine en Don Quichotte (Massenet), 1910 Jean-Louis Grinda, directeur
* Esultate, the History of Monte-Carlo Opera, a four-hour
documentary in four episodes, will be broadcast in 2023.

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