Founded in 1970 at the instigation of Princess Grace of Monaco and presided over by H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover since 1984, the Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo is a music festival whose artistic director is the composer and conductor Bruno Mantovani since May 2021. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, the composer Marc Monnet, he proposes a programme that questions history by establishing a real dialogue between the works presented in the same evening.
From the Middle Ages to contemporary creation, from traditional music to jazz: Printemps des Arts confronts languages, aesthetics, and schools, and establishes bridges between musicians who might otherwise be far apart.
Finally, special attention is paid to the dialogue between music and other forms of artistic expression. Dance, theatre and even gastronomy will take part in this celebration of sonic hedonism.
Printemps des Arts invites its spectators to a veritable whirlwind of music, a whirlwind of the senses and the spirit, a whirlwind of discovery and sharing.
There are several venues where events take place: Auditorium Rainier III, Opéra de Monte–Carlo, One Monte-Carlo et Galerie Hauser & Wirth, Hôtel Hermitage, Théâtre Princesse Grace, Club des Résidents Etrangers de Monaco, Église Saint-Charles, Théâtre des Variétés, Tunnel Riva, Société nautique de Monaco, Musée océanographique, Centre culturel Prince Jacques, Hôtel de Monaco and Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Nice.
This year marks the fortieth edition of the Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo. After thirty-nine springs, the Festival remains faithful to what constitutes its essence: creation, encounters between the arts, and the rediscovery of works from the past that challenge us in new ways every day. For these works are neither immutable nor timeless: they are the fruit of a living art that is constantly being renewed, according to the style of the performers, the imagination of the audience and the context in which the music is performed.
One work in particular is in the spotlight this year, whose central theme is more topical than ever: The Song of the Earth. From Gustav Mahler's original score to Laurent Cuniot's world premiere based on it, this is a veritable odyssey that questions our relationship with the Earth, our environment and the cycle of life.
In this spirit of combining the arts, so dear to the Festival, photography will sharpen our gaze on the same essential subjects. With his Genesis project, Sebastião Salgado has written a veritable love letter to our planet, helping us to understand that art is not just about the beauty of light or the power of contrast. Salgado informs us, his way of capturing the ephemeral stimulates us to think, and leads us to look at our world differently.
The annual return of Printemps des Arts could be seen as an unchanging, eternal cycle, like the succession of the seasons. The programme for this fortieth edition also invites us to perceive what is precious, rare and fragile in the world around us. As Baudelaire wrote, it is by combining these two dimensions that art is accomplished: "Modernity is the transitory, the fugitive, the contingent, that half of art of which the other is the eternal and immutable".
La Princesse de Hanovre
During the festival, free shuttles are available after the last concert to the cities located on the Nice-Menton line.
Car: Highway A8: From Nice, highway exit 56 – “Monaco” – or highway exit 58 from Italia
Bus: From Nice: Take line 607 or 608
Train: SNCF train station – “Monaco” stop, TER PACA
Plane: Nice Cote d’Azur Airport - Take a taxi from Nice Airport on +33 4 93 13 78 78 / Take the Nice-Monaco express bus
Monaco and Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur are very attractive regions for holidays and there is a wide variety of accommodation.
There is no specific dress code at the festival.
“An integral part of this new way of life which gives flavour to a stay in the Principality, gastronomy is greatly honoured by the great chefs who know so well how to share their passion and pass on the richness of the land.
Of course with some 170 other restaurants throughout the Principality, specialities as diverse as grilled meat or fish dishes and other exotic cuisine also appear on the menu.” – Visit Monaco
