What does MOMUS bring to mind for you?

Gianluigi : In Italy, there’s a radio programme dedicated to opera and music called *Momus, il Caffè dell’Opera*. Every Saturday morning on Radio 3, Italy’s leading public cultural radio station, it features fascinating discussions about music and creativity. It’s a very erudite programme, but also very accessible. For me, the name Momus has always been associated with that world: culture, music and the pleasure of conversation.

It’s amusing, because the Café Momus actually appears in Puccini’s *La Bohème*.

Gianluigi : Yes, and that further reinforces the link between the café and artistic creation. The café is a meeting place. When you say to someone, ‘Let’s go for a coffee’, it’s never just an invitation to have a drink. It’s often the start of a conversation, an idea, a project or an adventure.

The start of something?

Gianluigi : Often, yes. Sometimes it’s also an important milestone. A moment when we pause, reflect and really engage with one another. A café creates a breather. It forces us to sit down, concentrate and be fully present.

What role does coffee play in your daily life?

Gianluigi : I really love the Dionysian side of life, the energy, the movement, the encounters. But coffee holds a special place. Unlike many other drinks, it often accompanies moments of reflection, writing or work. It fosters a certain kind of awareness of the world. Of course, it should be consumed in moderation. I used to drink far more of it when I was younger. These days, I appreciate every cup all the more.

Coffee is perhaps less a drink than an excuse to get together.

Gianluigi : Exactly. Behind every shared cup of coffee there’s often a conversation that’s worth having.