New Moods reopens: let the party begin! Interview with Stéphane Lobono and Alfonso Ciulla

Published on October 31, 2024Updated on November 04, 2024

On 5 December 2024, Moods officially becomes New Moods! A renaissance so long-awaited that HSH Prince Albert II will be there in person to open the show on 30 November. Just a stone's throw from the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, this not-to-be-missed temple to live music was a highlight of Monaco's nightlife between 2009 and 2011. Today it has regained its colour and soul, driven by the energy and desire of two passionate professionals: Stéphane Lobono, director of New Moods, and Alfonso Ciulla, artistic director of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, open the doors of this legendary venue, a true emblem of Monaco.

Come and see life live in Monaco!

Over the course of a season, “no fewer than 750 shows and live concerts are organised in Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer establishments. It's phenomenal!” Alfonso Ciulla raved. From New Moods to the Amazónico Monte-Carlo, not forgetting the legendary Salle des Étoiles, Opéra Garnier Monte-Carlo and Place du Casino, an uninterrupted stream of arts and culture flows through the Principality throughout the year. Like its two essential events: the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival in the summer, followed by the Monte-Carlo Jazz Festival in the autumn, two highlights of the always exceptional programmes, with a mix of international stars and new talent. So don't wait any longer: ask for the programme of our concerts and shows in Monaco!

On the eve of its rebirth, how would you describe New Moods?

Alfonso Ciulla: It is one of Monaco's legendary landmarks, and its rebirth has been eagerly awaited by local residents and all those who knew the establishment in its heyday. Through this second life, we hope to revive its DNA, that of live music. The same DNA conceived by Jean-René Palacio, the driving force behind the first Moods, which opened some fifteen years ago. The programme will round off the musical spectrum offered elsewhere at the Resort, adding a touch of rock and blues to our already well-established jazz, variety, classical and electronic music line-ups in the Principality.

Stéphane Lobono: "Moods... Just saying its name brings back unforgettable memories for a whole generation. New Moods will also create new ones. And as Jean-René Palacio wanted from the outset, the venue is intended to remain an accessible music venue. Putting live music within everyone's reach by welcoming all audiences. It's a concert and performance venue, not a dinner and show venue. I insist on that. Coming to New Moods means coming to enjoy a very high quality live concert or an evening of stand-up. New Moods is a response to a very strong demand, and we're responding by offering an artistic experience that is unprecedented in Monaco outside the summer season. New Moods will be open six months of the year, from October to March, and three days a week, from Thursday to Saturday evening.

To whom or what do we owe this renaissance of New Moods?

Alfonso Ciulla: This is partly due to public demand, and partly due to the wishes of Stéphane Valeri, Deputy Chairman of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. As soon as he took office in 2023, after learning of the high level of expectations, he was quick to commit to meeting them.

It's a big, bold and demanding challenge, and we're going to do everything we can to rise to it and once again make New Moods a special venue at the heart of Monaco's music scene.

Between Moods and New Moods, what stays the same, what changes?

Stéphane Lobono: Moods has always been a venue designed for live entertainment. Located in the basement, it has that New York or English club feel. That's why we've redesigned New Moods. The decor is warm and cosy, with a touch of cabaret. Imagine... a flight of steps leading down to a vast reception hall. At its centre, like trumpets descending from the ceiling. Then, through large wooden doors, you enter the hall. There you'll find bistro tables, velvet armchairs and moiré carpets in shades of red. That’s what makes you want to come and sit back and enjoy a concert while the weather outside is more unpredictable. The structure of the space remains the same, except that a small side stage has been added. All of which means that the staging of the show can be modulated a little. And on the technical side, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has also thought big. From the acoustics to the stage lighting, everything was pushed to the limit. The promise of an exceptional show for the public worthy of the biggest stages. It's a way of respecting the people who come to see not just a musical performance, but a really great show.

In terms of programming, it's all about live music. What will be in the spotlight?

Alfonso Ciulla: The main focus is on what has made the venue famous: tribute bands. And all around these bands we will insert what we call "signatures". So it's up to us to do our homework and work with producers to bring us the best up-and-coming artists, the new talents who will be featured on our various “Tribute” nights. We're aiming for the cream of the musical crop! To be honest, we can't reveal the line-up yet at this time, but I can guarantee you that it's going to be top-notch, with some incredible artists.

Stéphane Lobono: Enough to satisfy a very eclectic audience. Alfonso has made an artistic selection to match the DNA of the venue, and you won't come away from an evening at New Moods disappointed. Here you'll find the pleasure of returning to your roots in the heart of a legendary place. The chance to see some of the greatest pages of live music revisited by talented artists. Artists who won’t have toured elsewhere in the Resort or on the Côte d'Azur, precisely to satisfy spectators who have come to New Moods to experience "something else". For this first season, which will be a short one, running from December to March, we already have around fifty dates lined up. In other words, a huge new range of live shows. And we will have 80 dates for the next season.

What will an evening at New Moods be like?

Stéphane Lobono: The strength of the venue is that you can spend a whole evening there. Admission is free from 6pm until 8pm. The perfect opportunity for a relaxing after work drink. There will then be a minimum charge of €50 for the “show” part of the evening. There's a minimum spending requirement for both drinks and food: finger food from chef Marcel Ravin! From 8pm onwards, bookings must be made in advance or on request at the entrance, subject to availability, to attend the concert scheduled for that evening. The concert will be performed over two or even three sets. Each set is interspersed with a fifteen or twenty minute intermission. Plenty of time to get something to eat. And after the show, at around 11pm, New Moods will be offering a selection of music by a DJ.

Alfonso Ciulla: It will be more along the lines of an “old-fashioned” disco, with the pleasure of dancing to good tunes or simply listening to good records. What's more, we're going to try and ensure that these post-concert sessions are done on vinyl as much as possible. But the idea there is more of a selecta rather than straight deejaying. A selection of tracks in the spirit of what the Goldies were doing. Nostalgic moments for old-timers and an opportunity to discover or rediscover new experiences for others.

Stéphane Lobono: It's also important to point out that New Moods will be able to be booked for private parties! Outside opening hours and the high season, companies and individuals alike can hire the venue for private parties: evenings, conventions, birthdays, etc. In particular, we will be developing a birthday concept for children on Wednesdays and Sundays

Earlier you mentioned Marcel Ravin's finger food menu. A word about this collaboration? Is it obvious?

Stéphane Lobono: Once again, it was the Deputy Chairman who came up with the idea of entrusting Marcel Ravin with this new adventure, and he accepted it immediately. And after talking to him, right away he was enthusiastic about the idea of creating a whole range of finger food that would be easy to eat, tasty and accessible. A key figure on the Monegasque gastronomic scene, Marcel Ravin has concocted an exceptional menu of small bites. Relaxed, enjoyable cuisine, nourished by the expertise of this double Michelin-starred chef. Finally, New Moods is an opportunity, out of season, to attend a show of exceptional artistic and technical quality, while enjoying a top-class restaurant serving small bites that's both simple and elaborate, all for a ticket price that's accessible to as many people as possible. It's a very unifying project driven by highly experienced professionals in each of their fields. The crème de la crème of live entertainment bringing a legendary venue to life. You have to come and experience the place yourself to get a feel for its atmosphere.