The Grace of a Royal Prince in Monaco, under the Opera’s Golds

LE MONDE | 08.14.09 | 11h03 • updated | 11h04

Monaco, sent reporter
We had already seen him at least thirty times, in the past 25 years, in clubs, in big rooms or in stadiums, in Europe, in the USA, even at his own Paisley Park Studios near Minneapolis, but here, it is something else. The singer, guitarist, author-composer and producer Prince was Thursday August 13 at the Opera of Monte-Carlo, symbolic neighborhood of the principality of Monaco, for two back-to-back private concerts. All gold, red armchairs, impressive chandeliers above our heads and wide windows open to the gardens and the sea; contiguous to the Charles Garnier Casino, architect of the Opera of Paris, the building inaugurated in 1879, is scaled to the Principality: 450 seats, about 50 in the balconies and one for the Prince.

Prince took position of the space with an obvious enjoyment, the desire to play and to give a show, teasing without missing a moment of music. First show at 8:00pm the second at 11:00pm and nearly 4 hours of high artistic level. At the exit, around 1:00am, a group of fans compare the performances, comments the repertoire: a few rearranged hits, a lot of rare pieces the fans love, lots of riche and intense guitar solos.

They broke their “piggy bank” to take this trip to the “Rock”, to attend both 200€ concerts and to invest into the required outfits. Exited like the rest of the audience. To the exception of one person who was asking for her money back after the first show – she only knew one song. During the second show, Prince Albert II was dancing in his balcony.

On May the 4, 1994, Prince gave a legendary concert at the Stars &Bars of Monaco. Since then, nothing. “We’ve been trying to get him to come over for the past 3 or 4 years,” explains Bernard Lambert, CEO for SBM and organizer of every major event in the Principality. The deal was signed in early August and the concerts were announced for the 6 and the 13. Prince wanted the Opera or nothing. “The investment is at the height of the reputation and the importance of the artist”, adds Lambert. For the Opera, it’s the first rock concert in its history, even though “electricity” had already been there during the Jazz Festival in November 2008. Therefore history was made.

Luminous Jellyfish

In the afternoon, a half an hour of rehearsal with Renato Neto on keys, John Blackwell on drums, Rhonda Smith on bass and Morris Hayes on keys. Prince supervises sound and lights. At 5:00pm, credentialed photographers learn that no photograph shall be taken. The embarrassed organizers insist. In vain. Prince, born June 7 1958, even though he doesn’t represent the same commercial force of the 1980’s and 1990’s, is still a star.

On the stage, two luminous jellyfish, an Asian-inspired round screen projecting colors and shapes. In essence, the stage used in March for the release of the triple album Lotusflow3r during the American TV shows (Le Monde, April 27). Since available via import, it will be distributed in France by Because Music beginning September 7.

In the intimacy of the Monte Carlo Opera, we cannot miss any of Prince’s moves. Gracious, almost floating, body reacting to the musical movements, a hand straightens itself, freezes, a step re-launches, the guitar playing, beside the mastering of the instrument, like a butterfly dance. With great theater numbers. The venue is calling for them. And since Opera there is, Prince doesn’t save his falsetto technique on the ballades. Totally musical, in the impregnation of every genre, he presents sort of an anthology. Gospel and blues here, rock, even hard rock elsewhere, funk – a lot -, soul, pop, jazz… Reactive band, paying attention – a flat Blackwell is sometimes demonstrative. The audience to his Princely letters, to sing along the lyrics, the melodies, handclaps have are very precise, musical syncopations included. Some popular originals, some new ones, some rarities and cover tunes… Prince is tonight the new sovereign of the Principality.

Additional concert August 16, Salle des Etoiles du Sporting Club de Monaco. Combination Dinner-Concert, 500 €. www.sportingmontecarlo.com
Sylvain Siclier

deepabove said:

I can make my Prince Albert dance too. It never makes the papers though!
Curses!

GREAT! THANKS!!!

Thank you for posting!