Jun
2022

Rainier III Academy GALA

AUDITORIUM RAINIER III

In the presence of H.R.H. Princess Caroline of Hanover, Mélanie-Antoinette de Massy, Deputy Mayors Françoise Gamerdinger and Karyn Ardisson Salopek, in charge of Culture, Mélanie Flachaire, Conseiller Communal and representatives of Monaco's highest institutions, the Gala Concert took place on Wednesday June 15, 2022 at the Auditorium Rainier III.

In her welcome address, Karyn Ardisson Salopek expressed her emotion and pride at opening the event after a two-year hiatus marked by the health crisis and the closure of the Academy's main building for major works. She then handed over to her Director, Jade Sapolin, who presented the evening's program, and warmly thanked both teachers and students for their involvement in preparing the concert.

In the first half, three students from the Académie Rainier III shone with their talent alongside the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Laura Giteau gave a magnificent performance of a concerto for Harp and Orchestra by Gabriel Pierné, then it was the turn of soprano Johanna Coutaud to enchant the audience with an excerpt from Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, before concluding with an impressive piece by Keiko Abe for Marimba and Orchestra, brilliantly led by Alex Moutoussamy on percussion.

The second half began with three excerpts from the Theatre class, which then handed over the stage to the younger members of the ensemble - the Children's Choir, followed by two ensembles of clarinet, accordion and double bass.

The concert then continued with the large ensembles: the Big Band and its interpretation of Pee Willis' Chicken, the Orchestre des Jeunes for George Gershwin's Rhapsody in blue and finally several Orchestra Classes together - in all, more than 160 musicians accompanied by the tap band for a breathtaking finale with Leroy Anderson's Typewriter.

After the conference "Un premier siècle d'histoire" ("A first century of history") hosted by Corinne Schneider and the alumni concert in May, the Gala Concert brilliantly rounded off the commemorations organized by Monaco's City Hall to mark the 100th anniversary of the Académie Rainier III.