Latest news with #TheArgonauts
Malaysian Reserve
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
A night at the Geneva opera — that is a literal snoozefest
by AGNÈS PEDRERO IN MOST places, a night at the opera conjures up images of polite audiences in eveningwear sitting upright to enjoy a bit of Bel Canto. In Geneva, though, once a year the crowd includes children, the eveningwear is pyjamas and socks — and the seats are scoped out for how comfortable they are to sleep in. Welcome to Sleepover in the city's 19th-century opera house, when it opens its doors to a small number of enthusiasts. From 8pm they wander its fresco-covered foyers, listen to performed music…and spend the night dozing in an auditorium lit up like a starry night. 'It's pretty crazy,' said law professor Carine Lutz, as a friend next to her rolled out a sleeping bag at the foot of the stage. They were among 180 people who rushed in with suitcases and shopping bags stuffed with quilts to stake out a nocturnal niche in the Grand Theatre. Among them were many families with children, who marvelled at the giant mirrors with gilded frames, the angels and nymphs painted above, and, of course, some music. 'I think purists might find it difficult to imagine that one could sleep here, on the same stage where major operas are usually performed,' Lutz told AFP. Grand Theatre dramaturge Clara Pons explained that the unusual offering was designed 'to open up spaces to things you don't usually do there, like for instance running around in your pyjamas,' rather than in ultra-formal attire. 'We feel closer to people than when we're all sitting in the 1,500-seat auditorium,' she said. Rush to the Balconies The connoisseurs know to flock to the balconies and the auditorium's red velvet armchairs, considered the most comfortable places to spend the night. Adrien Mangili was relishing the experience for the third time with family and friends. 'You have to come early to get a dressing room, to be able to sleep and have a little privacy,' he said, as his seven-year-old daughter Phedre enthusiastically pulled on pyjamas. If you get a good spot, 'it is easier for the kids to fall asleep,' he said. Before turning in, the children and adults spend hours exploring the darkened opera house, guided by ushers holding fluorescent rods. Their strolls were punctuated by musical interludes performed by a Baroque music ensemble called 'The Argonauts'. 'It's soothing, but it doesn't put you to sleep,' said Heloise Garcia, a 20-year-old student stretched out on the main stage. Those unable to secure a box rolled out their sleeping backs in corridors, foyers and on the floor of the auditorium, under a ceiling spotted with a thousand pinholes of light in the shape of the Milky Way. Carolina Marques Lopes, a lawyer, showed off a yellow dog soft toy she brought along. 'This is in case the Phantom comes to visit,' she joked. Stefanie Neves, captivated by the main foyer with its frescoes and paintings, said: 'We brought inflatable queen-size beds.' She and her friends wanted 'to be able to fully enjoy the music and still get a few hours of sleep,' she explained. Before lying down, Neves looked up at an overhead imposing chandelier and pushed her mattress farther away, just in case. Chopin to Pink Floyd Later that night, she and others dozed as an Italian pianist and performer, Marino Formenti, played piece after piece, at whim. 'I decided not to impose a programme, but to bring a number of very different compositions that I like to play, from Baroque to Chopin, to rock music, Pink Floyd, the Beatles,' he told AFP. Near the piano, a young couple danced, entwined, one barefoot and the other in socks, as a woman and child wearing matching panda pyjamas wandered past. Nicolas Wisard, stretched out on his mat, savoured the view. 'It's almost as good as Versailles, the Palace of Mirrors,' he said. As dawn ticked closer, snoring filled the Great Hall's acoustics, while a silent black and white movie played on a giant screen. 'It was really cool,' said Megan Bonfils as she groggily woke to music. 'Being with the artists and in this incredible place…in socks.' — AFP This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
The Guardian
16-04-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Underwater Argonauts! The deep-sea scientists logging Med pollution
The Argonauts is a project that follows a team of scientists aboard the oceanographic vessel L'Atalante during an expedition in the Mediterranean in summer 2024. Beneath the Surface is at Somerset House, London, 17 April to 5 photographs: © Juliette Pavy With an estimated 229,000 tonnes of plastic waste entering the Mediterranean every year – making it one of the world's most polluted seas – the scientists' mission extends beyond documentation. Like modern-day argonauts, they seek to raise awareness, inspire action, and promote solutions A real microcosm of a city is re-created on L'Atalante: there is a restaurant with waiters, a gym, and even a temporary shop, helping to foster a sense of community Scientists enjoy the sunshine on the ship's foredeck between watches. They rarely get a day off This plankton net is equipped with three different meshes, enabling zooplankton to be collected from the water to a depth of 200m. These are analysed using imaging and new genomic methods, such as the analysis of environmental DNA Molé puts on her survival suit following a safety briefing. This is a compulsory procedure so crews know how to react in an emergency Muret is responsible for launching the 'rosette'. A large pole called a gaff is used to keep it upright in strong winds. The scientists also provide spare equipment in case of breakage due to storms or other factors Most of the scientists on board have not had a day off: it's seven days a week, 24 hours a day. 'With The Argonauts,' says Pavy, 'I allowed myself more creative freedom, stepping aside from traditional photojournalism. Experimenting with fiction while remaining rooted in reality opened up new ways to tell stories' In her second long-term project Under the Arctic Ice, Mercury, Pavy sheds light on the realities of indigenous peoples' prolonged exposure to high mercury levels across the Arctic regions of Greenland and Nunavut. Iqaluit ('the place with many fish' in Inuktitut), has approximately 8,000 inhabitants This former ranger practices seal hunting at the 'floe edge' (where open water meets the ice floe) for sustenance. He places great importance on passing down this culture. 'We are the eyes and ears of the north', he says. Tikivik also conducts workshops for young Inuit to impart traditional skills: igloo building, hunting techniques, and the Inuktitut language With mercury levels in the Arctic increasing tenfold since the industrial revolution and the combined impact of global warming, methylmercury is now spreading into the food chain. Locals here are cutting up a caribou. They will sell the meat directly to other residents. Caribou is the most commonly consumed traditional meat by the Inuit in northern Canada and is less exposed to mercury than seal meat Pavy captures the efforts of doctors, scientists and local communities facing this public health challenge first-hand. Lake trout, the northernmost freshwater species, is an important resource for the people of the north. Sadly, it is also the second-largest source of mercury exposure for the Inuit (8.4%), after seals The starfish is one of the first links in the food chain. Mercury contamination occurs when it scratches sediments The hunters spend long hours on the ice floe waiting for slack tide, the period between two tides when there is little current. This is when the seals regularly come out of the water. The Inuit do not eat the oldest seals. 'We leave them for the dogs because they taste bad due to accumulated mercury', one of the hunters says In Greenland, hunting and fishing account for 10% of jobs and are an important resource for the territory's economy. They also account for 25% of the territory's GDP The highest per capita mercury levels on the planet are among the Inuit of Canada and Greenland
Jordan Times
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Jordan Times
A night at the Geneva opera -- that is a literal snoozefest
GENEVA — In most places, a night at the opera conjures up images of polite audiences in eveningwear sitting upright to enjoy a bit of Bel Canto. In Geneva, though, once a year the crowd includes children, the eveningwear is pyjamas and socks -- and the seats are scoped out for how comfortable they are to sleep in. Welcome to Sleepover in the city's 19th-century opera house, when it opens its doors to a small number of enthusiasts. From 8 pm they wander its fresco-covered foyers, listen to performed music... and spend the night dozing in an auditorium lit up like a starry night. "It's pretty crazy," said law professor Carine Lutz, as a friend next to her rolled out a sleeping bag at the foot of the stage. They were among 180 people who rushed in with suitcases and shopping bags stuffed with quilts to stake out a nocturnal niche in the Grand Theatre. Among them were many families with children, who marvelled at the giant mirrors with gilded frames, the angels and nymphs painted above, and, of course, some music. "I think purists might find it difficult to imagine that one could sleep here, on the same stage where major operas are usually performed," Lutz told AFP. Grand Theatre dramaturge Clara Pons explained that the unusual offering was designed "to open up spaces to things you don't usually do there, like for instance running around in your pyjamas", rather than in ultra-formal attire. "We feel closer to people than when we're all sitting in the 1,500-seat auditorium," she said. Rush to the balconies The connoisseurs know to flock to the balconies and the auditorium's red velvet armchairs, considered the most comfortable places to spend the night. Adrien Mangili was relishing the experience for the third time with family and friends. "You have to come early to get a dressing room, to be able to sleep and have a little privacy," he said, as his seven-year-old daughter Phedre enthusiastically pulled on pyjamas. If you get a good spot, "it is easier for the kids to fall asleep," he said. Before turning in, the children and adults spend hours exploring the darkened opera house, guided by ushers holding fluorescent rods. Their strolls were punctuated by musical interludes performed by a Baroque music ensemble called "The Argonauts". "It's soothing, but it doesn't put you to sleep," said Heloise Garcia, a 20-year-old student stretched out on the main stage. Those unable to secure a box rolled out their sleeping backs in corridors, foyers and on the floor of the auditorium, under a ceiling spotted with a thousand pinholes of light in the shape of the Milky Way. Carolina Marques Lopes, a lawyer, showed off a yellow dog soft toy she brought along. "This is in case the Phantom comes to visit," she joked. Stefanie Neves, captivated by the main foyer with its frescoes and paintings, said: "We brought inflatable queen-size beds." She and her friends wanted "to be able to fully enjoy the music and still get a few hours of sleep," she explained. Before lying down, Neves looked up at an overhead imposing chandelier and pushed her mattress farther away, just in case. Chopin to Pink Floyd Later that night, she and others dozed as an Italian pianist and performer, Marino Formenti, played piece after piece, at whim. "I decided not to impose a programme, but to bring a number of very different compositions that I like to play, from Baroque to Chopin, to rock music, Pink Floyd, the Beatles," he told AFP. Near the piano, a young couple danced, entwined, one barefoot and the other in socks, as a woman and child wearing matching panda pyjamas wandered past. Nicolas Wisard, stretched out on his mat, savoured the view. "It's almost as good as Versailles, the Palace of Mirrors," he said As dawn ticked closer, snoring filled the Great Hall's acoustics, while a silent black and white movie played on a giant screen. "It was really cool," said Megan Bonfils as she groggily woke to music. "Being with the artists and in this incredible place... in socks."
The Guardian
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tell us: have you been inspired to declare your love inspired by a piece of art?
The Guardian's Saturday magazine is looking for people who declared their love after being inspired by a certain song, book, TV show or film. Did you confess your feelings for your best friend after watching When Harry Met Sally? Did you propose after seeing Four Weddings and a Funeral? Did you decide to have a baby with your partner after reading The Argonauts? We're looking for funny, unexpected love stories – and they don't have to have happy endings. Maybe you married the wrong person, and now you realise that all that really held you together was a deep and undying love of The Arctic Monkeys? Perhaps Fleabag made you proposition your priest? You can tell your story of declaring love after being inspired by a piece of art using this form. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
Gulf Today
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
A night at the Geneva opera — that is a literal snoozefest
In most places, a night at the opera conjures up images of polite audiences in eveningwear sitting upright to enjoy a bit of Bel Canto. In Geneva, though, once a year the crowd includes children, the eveningwear is pyjamas and socks — and the seats are scoped out for how comfortable they are to sleep in. Welcome to Sleepover in the city's 19th-century opera house, when it opens its doors to a small number of enthusiasts. From 8 pm they wander its fresco-covered foyers, listen to performed music... and spend the night dozing in an auditorium lit up like a starry night. 'It's pretty crazy,' said law professor Carine Lutz, as a friend next to her rolled out a sleeping bag at the foot of the stage. They were among 180 people who rushed in with suitcases and shopping bags stuffed with quilts to stake out a nocturnal niche in the Grand Theatre. Among them were many families with children, who marvelled at the giant mirrors with gilded frames, the angels and nymphs painted above, and, of course, some music. 'I think purists might find it difficult to imagine that one could sleep here, on the same stage where major operas are usually performed,' Lutz said. Grand Theatre dramaturge Clara Pons explained that the unusual offering was designed 'to open up spaces to things you don't usually do there, like for instance running around in your pyjamas,' rather than in ultra-formal attire. 'We feel closer to people than when we're all sitting in the 1,500-seat auditorium,' she said. The connoisseurs know to flock to the balconies and the auditorium's red velvet armchairs, considered the most comfortable places to spend the night. Adrien Mangili was relishing the experience for the third time with family and friends. 'You have to come early to get a dressing room, to be able to sleep and have a little privacy,' he said, as his seven-year-old daughter Phedre enthusiastically pulled on pyjamas. If you get a good spot, 'it is easier for the kids to fall asleep,' he said. Before turning in, the children and adults spend hours exploring the darkened opera house, guided by ushers holding fluorescent rods. Their strolls were punctuated by musical interludes performed by a Baroque music ensemble called 'The Argonauts'. 'It's soothing, but it doesn't put you to sleep,' said Heloise Garcia, a 20-year-old student stretched out on the main stage. Those unable to secure a box rolled out their sleeping backs in corridors, foyers and on the floor of the auditorium, under a ceiling spotted with a thousand pinholes of light in the shape of the Milky Way. Carolina Marques Lopes, a lawyer, showed off a yellow dog soft toy she brought along. 'This is in case the Phantom comes to visit,' she joked. Stefanie Neves, captivated by the main foyer with its frescoes and paintings, said: 'We brought inflatable queen-size beds.' She and her friends wanted 'to be able to fully enjoy the music and still get a few hours of sleep,' she explained. Before lying down, Neves looked up at an overhead imposing chandelier and pushed her mattress farther away, just in case. Later that night, she and others dozed as an Italian pianist and performer, Marino Formenti, played piece after piece, at whim. 'I decided not to impose a programme, but to bring a number of very different compositions that I like to play, from Baroque to Chopin, to rock music, Pink Floyd, the Beatles,' he told AFP. Near the piano, a young couple danced, entwined, one barefoot and the other in socks, as a woman and child wearing matching panda pyjamas wandered past. Nicolas Wisard, stretched out on his mat, savoured the view. 'It's almost as good as Versailles, the Palace of Mirrors,' he said. As dawn ticked closer, snoring filled the Great Hall's acoustics, while a silent black and white movie played on a giant screen. 'It was really cool,' said Megan Bonfils as she groggily woke to music. 'Being with the artists and in this incredible place... in socks.' Agence France-Presse
