http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com Welcome to our new weblog. On this site you will find an archive of articles and information, as well as news and feedback on a broad spectrum of topics. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/sax-and-art/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sax-and-art http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/sax-and-art/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:10:23 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=880 Taoufiq Hsaine is the kind of person you immediately both like and are extremely envious of; a fascinating, resonant and talented man who gives the impression of fitting more into every minute than most achieve in a whole lifetime. As lead tenor saxophonist, his dulcet timbres graced the ears of Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana – amongst others – before Taoufiq set off in his trusty VW to explore the musical landscape of Europe. His journey took him to Venice, Paris, Salzburg and Prague, but it was Krakow, Poland, that had the greatest effect on him. “I met a wonderful 80-year-old man, a friend of Pope John Paul II. He was so passionate and he encouraged me to start painting. I did; he bought my first painting and now painting is my life,” he says. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/sax-and-art/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/jean-paul-gaultier-meets-roche-bobois/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jean-paul-gaultier-meets-roche-bobois http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/jean-paul-gaultier-meets-roche-bobois/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:20:50 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=777 The name Roche Bobois is synonymous with quality and style, its position in the luxury furniture market as strong as ever, so the company’s 50th anniversary was the perfect moment to launch its latest manifesto: The 10 Commandments of Design. Enlisting the assistance of France’s bad boy of design, Jean-Paul Gaultier, the 50th anniversary collection is a genuinely stunning blend of a classic furniture brand’s coming together with one of the main players in 21st century fashion. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/jean-paul-gaultier-meets-roche-bobois/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/royal-siam/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=royal-siam http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/royal-siam/#comments Sun, 10 Jul 2011 11:05:41 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=770 At once mysterious and welcoming, Thailand is a tropical paradise with hidden depths beyond its beaches, spa resorts and nightlife. Typically South East Asian, Thailand is the confluence of three great cultures. Dominated for centuries by the neighbouring Khmer, the people of Thailand have also been strongly influenced by India and China. From early Hindu influences through to Buddhist conversion, the Thai have borrowed from their Indian and Chinese neighbours to create a distinctive identity of their own. While many of these traditions may have their origins in the India of classical times, and while a large percentage of the population is of Chinese extraction, the resulting mix is a spicy blend that can be rightly labelled as Thai. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/royal-siam/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/boy-george/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=boy-george http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/boy-george/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 19:10:15 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=725 Each year, over two million people buy an item of clothing or an accessory in one of the more than 2,000 Armani outlets in countries all over the world, generating revenues in excess of $700 million. This is the profile of a company that has enjoyed continued growth since it was established in 1975 and still shows no signs of slowing down. Loyal to a philosophy of design that has produced his trademark style of simple yet refined elegance, Giorgio Armani has not only weathered the vicissitudes of time, he has thrived on them. The secret of this remarkable success is the clean design that gives his creations a timeless quality, which transcends fashions and fads—the surest mark of a master. As a young man, Giorgio Armani gave up his medical studies when he realised that he had a greater affinity for design. After several detours, he found his true vocation in the hectic and exciting world of the Milan fashion industry, where his first notable design, now almost 35 years ago, was a button for a jacket by Nino Cerruti, his erstwhile employer. Displaying a unique personal touch at a very early stage in his career, Armani plunged wholeheartedly into the unknown, breaking new ground and shirking no challenge in the process.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/freelance-writing/boy-george/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/property/daniel-libeskind-villas-marbella/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=daniel-libeskind-villas-marbella http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/property/daniel-libeskind-villas-marbella/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 09:26:44 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=716 With an ultramodern project designed by American architect Daniel Libeskind, the man charged with designing the new World Trade Centre site in New York, Marbella has attracted a project of true architectural significance. One of the leading architects of our time, Daniel Libeskind has also added to an already impressive list of great American designers. A sought-after guest lecturer at universities around the world, his work is inspired by the possibilities of a new era in which technology, media and novel materials are pushing the definitions of conventional living spaces towards new boundaries. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/property/daniel-libeskind-villas-marbella/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/sports/highflying-women/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=highflying-women http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/sports/highflying-women/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:39:38 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=709 I think there’s a certain glamour to aerobatics – that world in which elite groups of the world’s finest pilots outdo one another to create the ballet of the skies. This synchronised dance of timing and daring is also one of the most dangerous activities you could sign up for, so there must be an element of madness in the steely nerve of these handpicked men – and women. I admit it; I was quite surprised to see that two of the world’s oldest and finest aerobatics teams, the Red Arrows and the Patrouille de France, now also have female pilots within their ranks. I know it’s 2011 and that there are now women fighter pilots in the air forces of the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Holland, Canada, Australia and even the likes of Pakistan and the Philippines, but it still took me by surprise. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/sports/highflying-women/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/super-cool-in-palma-de-mallorca/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=super-cool-in-palma-de-mallorca http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/super-cool-in-palma-de-mallorca/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:31:49 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=657 Some places are so impressively stylish and proportioned that they make you feel trendy just by walking around in them. The Puro Mallorca is a fine example. And naturally it’s a Design Hotel. Take an historic palacete in the very heart of Palma de Mallorca – just footsteps away from its earthy markets, trendy cafés and harbour area – and add a brief to convert it into something special. Something with Cannes glamour, laid-back Miami languor and über-cool design that feeds off its historic setting and ambient surroundings.]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/super-cool-in-palma-de-mallorca/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/alexander-shorokhoff-russian-culture-encapsulated-in-time/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=alexander-shorokhoff-russian-culture-encapsulated-in-time http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/alexander-shorokhoff-russian-culture-encapsulated-in-time/#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:25:57 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=592 Watchmaker Alexander Shorokhoff is a man fascinated by both culture and technology. As an engineer and enthusiast of Russian tradition he is perfectly qualified to marry the best in modern precision engineering to an artistic vision laced with the distinctive touches of his motherland. The result is a remarkable collection of timepieces that are fast gaining a reputation for Russian excellence in design and jewellery. Trained as an engineer, Alexander Shorokhoff was working in Moscow when selected to become one of the first professionals invited to study abroad at a free market university. In his case, the road led to Frankfurt, where he would subsequently become involved in watch making. “It was a fascinating new experience and one I took to very naturally,” says Shorokhoff. “Even when I was studying engineering in Moscow I always had a fascination with design, geometry and architecture, so working with watches was a perfect environment for me, as it combines both the technical and the artistic sides.” ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/alexander-shorokhoff-russian-culture-encapsulated-in-time/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/helly-nahmad-from-picasso-to-kandinsky/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=helly-nahmad-from-picasso-to-kandinsky http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/helly-nahmad-from-picasso-to-kandinsky/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:35:17 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=364 In a world saturated with self-proclaimed experts and art dealers few can truthfully claim to be buyers and sellers of Picassos, Chagals and Kandinskys. For Helly Nahmad, it is part of a proud family dynasty that spans over 50 years. A man with such a diverse background could not do something banal for a living. Born in Lebanon of Syrian origin, Helly Nahmad grew up in Italy before living in France, Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, and now in Marbella, Southern Spain. The result is a lively and inquisitive personality that has served him well, for it is his ability to connect with a broad range of people that has proved a particularly valuable asset in his unique line of work. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/helly-nahmad-from-picasso-to-kandinsky/feed/ 0 http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/brilliant-designs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=brilliant-designs http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/brilliant-designs/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:05:34 +0000 Michel Cruz http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/?p=159 Many of the world’s famous brands may come from Paris, Milan and London, but whilst in many cases iconic, much of what they make is actually produced on a considerable scale. For one-off pieces designed and made by master craftsmen, smaller bespoke jewellers are making a welcome comeback. There was a time when jewellers were not part of large corporate brands but made handcrafted pieces designed uniquely for individual clients. These were the times when a master jeweller was more an artist than an artisan, often crossing over between jewellery making, art and sometimes even architecture. René Lalique is a fine example, but in actual fact many of today’s famous names still trade on reputations earned over a century ago. ]]> http://michel-cruz.rimontgo.com/art/brilliant-designs/feed/ 0