Cartier ambassador Melanie Laurent to stage virtual reality opera in Venice

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Aug 31, 2022

Cartier is going on a full court press in Venice, financing major restoration projects in the lagoon city, where its ambassador Melanie Laurent will stage a virtual reality opera during the Venice film festival which opens Wednesday.

 
Entitled Eugénie’s Tears, it is a unique contemporary opera, written by Laurent, a love between Igor the fisherman, and Eugenie the mermaid, created especially for Cartier in 2020. A polymorphous creation, and mix of virtual reality movie, book for children and on-stage opera. Its premiere was in Geneva in October 2021, though the Venice edition is another debut, as its entirely rewritten, and combines live performances and VR experience.
 
Cartier is the main sponsor of the film fest, which falls in the middle of the biannual Biennale of Venice, where Cartier is also active. This Friday, the brand begins staging an intriguing series of Cartier Art Dialogues featuring exchanges between composers and musicians on the alchemy between sounds and vision.

To be staged in Palazzo del Casino, it will feature noted composers like Alexandre Desplat, whose soundtracks include The Queen, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The King’s Speech; and Enrico Morricone, whose dad Ennio was Italy’s greatest creator of cinematic soundtracks. All conversations will be re-broadcast via Mezzo TV channel, and on a Cartier Art Dialogues dedicated platform, open to the public.

 
In a busy Venetian moment for the classy jeweler, Cartier will also fund the restoration of two noted works of architecture - Teatro Verde, a stunning amphitheater located on the island of San Giorgio, and the Conservatorio Di Musica Benedetto Marcello. Cartier’s contribution has enabled the consolidation of the amphitheater’s structure and restoration of its Istrian stone seats and boxwood hedges.
 
The tony jeweler is also supporting Orsoni Venezia 1888, the last remaining furnace permitted to operate with fire in Venice, with the creation of La Schola, a new center of excellence and training that will continue the development of the ancient craft of gold leaf and Venetian smalti mosaic production.

 
“Preserving the beauty of the world and enriching it is one of Cartier’s driving principles. Venice is a dazzling creation which continues to inspire and influence with its beauty to this day. Through the Maison’s support and commitment to the city, we seek to help preserve its heritage by restoring or renovating historic landmarks, and to contribute to its cultural life, whether through the international film festival, working with contemporary makers or inviting musical artists to share their creative paths in our Cartier Art Dialogues,” said Cyrille Vigneron, president and CEO of Cartier.
 
Finally, to celebrate its historic connections to cinema, Cartier has developed a special display of iconic pieces, which have appeared in major film classics, to be unveiled in the maison’s boutique in Venice. These include Grace Kelly’s engagement ring, a stunning ring with an emerald-cut 10.48-carat diamond framed by two baguette-cut diamonds, worn in her final film, High Society; and a dazzling bracelet worn by Gloria Swanson in Perfect Understanding and Sunset Boulevard.