This is Beirut - Culture

Napoleon Collection Auction Fetches Over $10M in Paris

This is Beirut, 26/06 12:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

History Napoleon Auction Sotheby's France Culture

A massive trove of artwork and curios linked to Napoleon Bonaparte, including one of his iconic bicorne hats, has sold for more than $10 million in Paris, an auction house said. Sotheby's said it had originally estimated the more than 110 items of Napoleonic memorabilia that it sold on Wednesday at around $7 million. Famous paintings of the ...

Léa Massari, Quiet Elegance of European Cinema and Silent Memory of the Silver Screen

Marie-Christine Tayah, 26/06 11:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cinema Culture Art Léa Massari France Italy

Léa Massari, the delicate and unforgettable star of the silver screen, passed away in Rome at the age of 91. Born Anna Maria Massatani, she embodied Italian cinema through and through, and won over French audiences with her subtle performances and enigmatic presence. Her filmography was defined by integrity, restraint, and an irresistible charm. ...

Denis Villeneuve to Direct Bold New James Bond Film

This is Beirut, 26/06 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Cinema Film James Bond Denis Villeneuve Culture Art

Fresh from his success with the Dune saga, Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the next movie in the storied James Bond franchise, Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday. The online retail giant has chosen a filmmaker very much in vogue in Hollywood as he makes his first foray into the world of the now-iconic British agent 007, first ...

Farewell to Léa Massari, Iconic Actress of French and Italian Cinema

This is Beirut, 25/06 17:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Cinema Actress Léa Massari Obituary Italy Culture

The Italian actress, Léa Massari, celebrated for her roles in L’Avventura and Le souffle au cœur, passed away in Rome, Italian officials confirmed on Wednesday. Lucia Borgonzoni, Italy’s Secretary of State for Culture, paid tribute to “an actress of irresistible magnetism and dazzling talent.” According to the Roman daily Il Messaggero, ...

Byblos International Festival 2025 Returns to Celebrate Cultural Resilience

This is Beirut, 25/06 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Byblos Culture Jbeil

The historic port city of Byblos, Lebanon, will once again host its famed international music festival amid a picturesque seaside setting. The Byblos International Festival is making a long-awaited comeback after a multi-year hiatus triggered by the country’s recent crises. Scheduled for August 5–10, 2025 in the ancient coastal city of Byblos, ...

Saint Laurent, Vuitton Light Up Paris Men's Fashion Week

This is Beirut, 25/06 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Fashion Culture Paris Paris Fashion Week France Art

Saint Laurent and Vuitton opened Paris Men's Fashion Week on Tuesday with collections tinged with retro influences, as the industry reels from the revolving door of creative directors and a diminished appetite for luxury goods. Saint Laurent Returns with Playful Retro Style Saint Laurent kicked things off with a playful spring-summer 2026 ...

The Palace of Versailles Brings Statues to Life With AI Conversations

This is Beirut, 24/06 13:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Heritage Palace of Versaille AI Statues France Culture

At the Palace of Versailles, visitors now converse with statues instead of listening to traditional audio guides, thanks to an innovation made possible by two artificial intelligence (AI) partners. The château unveiled the project to the press on Monday evening: a joint effort between American AI systems developer OpenAI and French start-up Ask ...

David Lynch Lithographs on Display All Summer in France

This is Beirut, 24/06 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Cinema Lithographs David Lynch Exhibition France Culture

Forty-nine lithographs and three experimental short films by David Lynch are on view until September 21 at the Duchamp Gallery in Yvetot, Seine-Maritime. Displayed across two floors in a dreamlike atmosphere characteristic of the American filmmaker’s work, who passed away in January, “they reveal the spirit of David Lynch, a somewhat dark ...

Italian Sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro Dies Aged Nearly 99

This is Beirut, 23/06 16:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Sculpture Arnaldo Pomodoro Death Arts Italy Culture

Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, renowned for his huge bronze spheres, died at the weekend, a day before his 99th birthday, his foundation said on Monday. Born in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna on June 23, 1926, Pomodoro began investigating solid geometric forms in the early 1960s. He created monumental spheres, cones, columns and ...

Jonathan Anderson Set for Dior Debut at Paris Fashion Week

This is Beirut, 23/06 15:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Fashion Week Luxury Men's Fashion Week Dior Fashion Paris Culture

Men's Fashion Week returns to Paris on Tuesday with heightened anticipation as Jonathan Anderson shows his first creations for Dior and Saint Laurent rejoins the official calendar. Following a flurry of artistic director changes, the spring-summer 2026 menswear season reflects the industry's instability: Milan scaled back its program and London ...

Art Market Banking on New Generation of Collectors

This is Beirut, 23/06 12:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Art Basel 2025 Switzerland Market Luxury Art Culture

The global art market is not immune to current economic and geopolitical tensions and is counting on a new generation of collectors to revitalize the momentum. Some big transactions were concluded last week during Art Basel, the world's top contemporary art fair, notably by London's Annely Juda Fine Art gallery, which sold a David Hockney ...

Black Eyed Peas Light Up Chambord Castle to Kick Off French Tour

This is Beirut, 23/06 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Black Eyed Peas Culture Art Music Concert France

The Black Eyed Peas, the American group with over 35 million albums sold, kicked off their French tour on Sunday night with a sold-out concert at the Château de Chambord (Loir-et-Cher), performing for more than 30,000 fans. Wearing straw hats and waving hand fans, Carole and Patrick Atline grabbed front-row spots by 4 p.m. despite the intense ...

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