admin On ottobre - 20 - 2014

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The Best Player 2014 is Andres Iniesta

Interview by Cristina Vannuzzi Landini

Lorena Baricalla: hours and hours in front of the ballet barres, the mirrors hard and intransient, rapid breathing becoming a sigh; the girl of steel who passed her life amid plies, pirouette and arabesque. She has trodden the world’s most important stages, dancing with the great Nureyev; Eric Vu, star of the Opera di Paris; and Frederic Olivieri, star of the Ballet di Monte-Carlo and former director of La Scala in Milan. She has sung duets with performers such as José Carreras and Montserrat Caballé, and now she is moving into a new, but no less fascinating role, as an ambassadress in the fashion world.

A cultured approach to fashion, never didactic or repetitive: Lorena Baricalla “interprets” the stylistic passions and concepts of international brands like a dragonfly – delicate and charming but in fact precise and vigorous – with her strong character, forged by her artistic disciplines. Hers is an intuitive creative identity that animates her on stage and in life where she has become a cult figure: a woman who wears fashion and interprets it. Hers is the philosophy of a createur.

 

When we speak of you it’s hard to give you a specific connotation, because you’re what is described as a 360° performer. You’re a ballet star, a singer and an actress with an international career, and you’ve performed in over 35 countries around the world. After having danced your first roles at the Ballet di Monte-Carlo you founded your own production company, Promo Art Monte-Carlo Production, which produces you as a performer and develops your many projects. As well, we know you create the choreography for your shows with a cast of up to 100 performers. Now, with inexhaustible energy, you have just presented the prestigious Golden Foot Award Monaco under the High Patronage of Prince Albert of Monaco …

Yes, it consists of a great international showcase and a prize awarded to the finest footballers in history. A feature of the award is that the players who receive it – and that includes players such as Maradona and Pelé – leave their footprints molded in bronze on the Champions Promenade di Monte-Carlo.

Lorena, how did your idea to link fashion to the Golden Foot Award Monaco come about?

When I became Master of Ceremonies I wanted to reflect my background as a performer: making this connection came naturally.

For me it was fundamental to bring the glamour, magically created by fashion, to the event, not only by wearing the various outfits but also by interpreting them in a different way, being a performer in everything I do. It was natural for me to link football, show and fashion: all fashion brands are represented by sportsmen and women, singers or actors.

Which garments did you choose?

During the four days of the event, both for the 20 official interviews and the Footprints Ceremony, I wore 25 outfits in world preview from the fantastic 2015 collections of Uel Camilo and Sveta, with 25 exceptional pairs of matching Joshua Fenu shoes. In addition, to present the Awards Gala in the noted Salle des Etoiles at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club, the 5 fabulous red carpet gowns were created exclusively for me by Uel Camilo.

And the jewellery?

I wore the “Princesse Grace Collection” from Montblanc Haute Joaillerie and this made me really happy in that we all know the princess for having been recognized as an icon of elegance throughout the world. And then I also wore Stroili Jewellery, Teresa Amato Jewellery, Nhero and Ortys.

Who took care of your look?

A very dear friend of mine, Paola Emilia Monachesi, a well-known manager in the sector and Fashion Director for Promo Art Monte-Carlo Production, our company which produces and manages the Golden Foot event. We chose from dozens and dozens of garments during Milan Fashion Week in a frenetic rush around the press offices and showrooms! Paola did a fantastic job, taking care of every detail.

Where does your ability to interpret every garment in a different way come from?

Because I’m a performer I’m very sensitive and for me every garment is like a costume in the theatre of life which, according to our mood, brings out a particular aspect of our personality.

What are the next stages for the future editions of Golden Foot?

As Master of Ceremonies I launched this 12th edition in Qatar, and I can already say that the 2015 edition will be announced next April in America and that it will adhere to the Year of Russia, promoted by the Monegasque Government, by recognizing a great Russian footballer.

Viewers were fascinated by your ability to present the event in 5 languages – English, French, Italian, German and Spanish – an exploit that very few could manage!

Yes, in fact I wanted to carry out this challenge, which is actually obligatory, given that this is an international event and many of the guests only speak certain languages: this year I also added a touch of Japanese! As well we wanted to create the allure of a great show with the orchestra, corps de ballet, performers and fashion parade.

You’ve become the hostess of the Golden Foot Award, welcoming great figures from the whole world onto the stage in the Principality.

Yes, and I’m proud of that because Monaco is also my country! The event was followed by the televisions and media from all over the world, and we had a range of guests with VIPs and world sports champions. To create the bridge between the actors Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and the Champions Promenade in Monte-Carlo – the only places in the world where hand and foot prints are placed – I called on the actress Jon Mack: she has performed in a film about football with Gerard Butler.

Who won the awards this year?

Six of the world’s best footballers, including Mia Hamm, considered a legend in America, and the first woman after 70 men to leave her footprint on the Champions Promenade. Mia Hamm appears in FIFA’s list of the 125 best living footballers, compiled by Pelé.

Mia Hamm has also created an international non-profit organization, the MIA HAMM FOUNDATION, dedicated to fundraising and promoting awareness in families in need of a bone marrow or spinal cord blood transplant. I must say, as a woman I was particularly struck and moved by her presence and her being awarded.

And who was the winner of the Best Player of the Year, voted for online by the fans as best footballer?

Andres Iniesta! Andres Iniesta, a Spaniard, made history for the Spanish national team by scoring the decisive goal in the World Cup final in South Africa. He’s a champion, very moved but also happy and proud to be the first Spanish player to win such important recognition.

Well then, Lorena, thank you so much for this very pleasant interview and see you again … in the USA in April!!

 

 

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