Monaco is set to come alive with the spirit of the Emerald Isle this St. Patrick’s Day, with the Princess Grace Irish Library planning a spectacular concert featuring a traditional Irish band, Dubh Linn, and a display of Irish dancing courtesy of award-winning dancer Cara Flannagan Walsh.
On Monday 17th March, the Princess Grace Irish Library will be hosting a vibrant lunchtime concert from 12:15pm in honour of St. Patrick’s Day.
Starting off the celebrations will be Dublin-based band Dubh Linn, comprised of four talented musicians who are known for their unique blend of vocal harmonies and energetic instrumental arrangements. Their infectious rhythms and soulful performances promise to transport the audience straight to the heart of an Irish céilí.
Adding even more magic to the event will be the incredible award-winning Irish dancer Cara Flannagan Walsh. A dancing prodigy since the age of three, Cara has performed across the globe and achieved remarkable success, including four top 5 finishes at the World Championships, with a personal best of second place. Get ready to be mesmerised as she brings the rich tradition of Irish dance to life!
The library is thrilled to invite everyone to celebrate Ireland’s national day in style at this fantastic event, made possible thanks to the generous support of patron Wil Byrne. Whether you’re Irish at heart or simply love great music and dance, this is an event not to be missed.
For more information, as well as to secure a space at this celebration filled with music, dance and plenty of craic, click here.
Vallauris Mayor Kevin Luciano has imposed a ban on the sale of alcohol between the hours of 5pm and 5am in several areas of the Alpes-Maritimes town.
The order was issued on 21st February and restricts the sale of takeaway alcohol within this 12-hour time frame in selected areas, namely on rue Clément-Bel, avenue de Grasse and avenue Georges-Clemenceau. It follows another municipal order banning the consumption of alcohol and hookah (shisha) on public roads between 1st January and 31st March 2025.
In a Facebook post, the mayor explained his latest stance, saying: “It appears that this activity generates noisy gatherings in front of the establishments and other nighttime grocery stores concerned.
The nighttime openings of such businesses encourage the presence of individuals on public roads, who consume alcohol and other prohibited substances, generate abnormal neighbourhood disturbances, cause noise pollution and are likely to cause disturbances to public order.”
The post was accompanied by a photo of an emergency response vehicle as well as the ratified legislative decision.
“Only the beginning”
The announcement received extensive support from local residents, many of whom congratulated the mayor on the initiative. One comment read: “Many thanks for this excellent initiative. This decree will strengthen the work of the municipal police teams, who are in such great demand, particularly in Rue Clément Bel and, by extension, in Place de l’Homme au mouton and the surrounding area.’’
Spurred by the positive endorsement, Mayor Kevin Luciano took the opportunity to hint further adjustments in the future by replying ‘’It’s only the beginning’’.
The Roca Team stormed into the French capital with a mission, and they delivered in spectacular fashion. In a high-stakes EuroLeague clash against Paris Basketball, AS Monaco flexed their muscles with a dominant 91-79 victory. With this commanding performance, they are firmly in fourth place in the standings, setting the stage for a thrilling rematch against their Parisian rivals in Betclic Elite action on 9th March.
The stakes were high on Wednesday as Monaco and Paris entered this game with identical records of 16 wins and 11 losses. The razor-thin margins in this season’s EuroLeague meant one misstep could send a team tumbling down the standings. With several teams nearly neck and neck, both sides knew the importance of securing a win. Paris, still reeling from a tight loss to Fenerbahçe earlier in the week, hoped to bounce back on their home turf at the Adidas Arena.
After an evenly contested first half, Monaco entered the break with a slim 44-39 lead. But once the second half began, they poured on the gas. The Roca Team came out on all cylinders, breezing by Paris with their relentless defence and nearly flawless offense. German powerhouse Daniel Theis took centre stage, showcasing his full arsenal, nailing free throws and sinking three-pointers with ease. His scoring spearheaded a stunning 12-0 run, capped off by an Alpha Diallo three-pointer that extended Monaco’s lead to 17 points. Paris never recovered.
By the start of the final quarter, Monaco had stretched their advantage to 18 points, hitting a score of 71-53, and despite some late efforts from Jaron Blossomgame and TJ Shorts, the Parisians simply couldn’t close the gap. The Roca Team secured a solid 91-79 win.
Vassilis Spanoulis, coach of the Roca Team, said after the match, “It was a great performance by the team tonight. The plan was respected, especially in defence. Matthew, Elie, Mike moved the ball well. Alpha defended well, Daniel was valuable, Jordan was skilful, everyone contributed. It’s a team victory. If we reproduce that, we will continue to win.”
Theis and Jordan Loyd were top scorers on the night with 21 points each. Alpha Diallo added 15 with Elie Okobo chipping in 12.
Monaco and Paris are set to clash again on 9th March, this time in a Betclic Elite match at home. But with momentum on their side and another commanding performance under their belts, the Roca Team will be looking to make it two-for-two against their capital rivals at Gaston Médecin.
The Club des Résidents Étrangers de Monaco (CREM) hosted a special evening on Monday 3rd March, bringing together art lovers and distinguished guests for the unveiling of its Gold Members plaque. The event, attended by Prince Albert II, also marked the opening of Michel Aubéry’s latest exhibition—an evocative collection of paintings inspired by the vibrant world of coral reefs.
Born in Monaco, Michel Aubéry has been creating art since childhood. His early works, featuring dragons and mythical creatures, were first exhibited in 1962 under the High Patronage of Princess Grace. After a long break, he returned to painting in 2007, inspired by renowned painter-sculptor Philippe Pastor. Since then, his work has been shown regularly, with the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco hosting his paintings numerous times.
This latest exhibition at CREM’s clubhouse, features Aubéry’s signature use of bold, shimmering colours that capture the beauty of marine life, a subject particularly close to his heart. At the request of the Oceanographic Museum, Aubéry has also focused on the intricate world of coral reefs, using his expressive style to highlight their fragility and splendour.
Prince Albert II, Honorary President of CREM since its founding in 2010, attended the evening as a show of his ongoing support for the club and its mission to foster connections among Monaco’s international community. Accompanied by CREM President Louisette Azzoaglio Lévy-Soussan, he toured Michel Aubéry’s exhibition, taking in the artist’s striking interpretations of marine life and coral reefs.
The evening was also an opportunity for the club to shine a spotlight on three major sponsors—CMB Monaco, BMW Store Monaco & MINI Store Monaco, and Pernod Ricard—all of whom play an active role in supporting the club and its international community. Their contributions help CREM continue its mission of fostering connections and offering unique experiences to its members.
See the gallery below for more pictures. All photos credit: Ilan Dehé – CREM
Young women in Monaco had the chance to connect with female leaders at the recent #GirlBoss speed mentoring event at the Columbus Monte-Carlo, where Charlotte Casiraghi and other speakers shared their personal insights on leadership, workplace equality and overcoming challenges.
The #GirlBoss speed mentoring session, organised by SheCanHeCan and the Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises de Monaco (AFCEM) in honour of International Women’s Day, took place on Wednesday 5th March at the Hôtel Columbus in Fontvieille and brought together young women and prominent female leaders in the Principality to discuss career aspirations, leadership and workplace equality.
Monaco Life attended the event, where Charlotte Casiraghi—a philosopher, writer, the face of Chanel and a member of the Grimaldi family—served as the keynote speaker. Addressing the audience, she spoke about the importance of initiatives like SheCanHeCan in providing guidance and encouragement for young women in Monaco and beyond.
“This event is an opportunity to have your voice heard and your path shared,” she said. “You can’t have a fabricated vision of success—it has to be real and personal.”
Left to right: Sabine Holz-Strautmann, Director of Credit at Banque J. Safra Sarasin; Johanna Houdrouge, President of AFCEM and co-founder of #GirlBoss; Celine Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for the Women’s Rights Committee; and Vibeke Brask Thomson, Director of SheCanHeCan and co-founder of #GirlBoss. Photo by Monaco Life
Inspiring female role models
Casiraghi also revealed her female inspirational icon, the late American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, praising her courage in advocating for Black women’s rights and for women in general. She read an excerpt from Angelou’s Letter to My Daughter, a text she described as her favourite, in which the author—who only had sons—addresses all young girls as if they were her daughters.
“Try to be a rainbow in the middle of clouds,” she quoted, encouraging the young women in the room to believe in themselves and remember Angelou’s message. “When creativity is discovered in a young woman, so is her confidence.”
Addressing workplace inequality
The speed mentoring event was created four years ago to inspire young local women to pursue leadership roles and challenge gender stereotypes. Despite progress, the event’s speakers acknowledged that inequality in the workplace remains a significant issue.
“Women have an important place in the workplace” was a key message of the afternoon, but as the president of AFCEM and the co-founder of #GirlBoss, Johanna Houdrouge, noted, the path to success is rarely straightforward.
Among the speakers was Vibeke Brask Thomsen, the director of SheCanHeCan and also a co-founder of #GirlBoss. A political science graduate, she worked in European think tanks before returning to Monaco in 2011 to launch SheCanHeCan.
“Behind every successful woman is a long and difficult path filled with challenges,” she stated. “Unfortunately, there are often more people who discourage rather than support, and what this event aims to do is provide that encouragement.”
Charlotte Casiraghi on overcoming challenges
Charlotte Casiraghi shared her thoughts on the biggest challenge of her career thus far, telling the audience, “I have had many challenges, but at the beginning of my studies, I was a perfectionist, and that put me under a lot of pressure. I always wanted to be perfect, but I realised that wasn’t sustainable. It was difficult to accept that I couldn’t handle that level of pressure.”
The #GirlBoss speed mentoring session, organised by SheCanHeCan and the Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises de Monaco, took place at the Hôtel Columbus. Photo by Monaco Life
She also spoke about learning to embrace spontaneity in her professional life.
“I realised that you don’t always have to be so prepared—it’s okay to be yourself and let your creativity take charge in the moment,” she shared.
Mentorship in action
The event welcomed young women aged 11 to 25 for one-on-one mentoring sessions with local business leaders and executives from industries including finance, commerce, real estate, haute couture, logistics, pharmaceuticals, hospitality and the arts.
Among the public officials in attendance were Céline Cottalorda, Interministerial Delegate for Monaco’s Women’s Rights Committee; Elodie Kheng, Chief of Staff to the Minister of State; Marine Grisoul, National Councillor; and Marina Ceyssac, High Commissioner for the Protection of Rights, Freedoms and Mediation.
The #GirlBoss speed mentoring event was just one part of Monaco’s wide-reaching International Women’s Rights Day programme, which will culminate in the PowHer Day initiative on 8th March, an event set to explore the representation of women in media, cinema and the arts.
The Opéra de Monte-Carlo will close its season with a special Ravel centenary celebration at the end of March, but first, the Monaco Cathedral will host a concert featuring Monteverdi’s Vespers for the Blessed Virgin and a world premiere by Bruno Mantovani.
Before the season finale later in the month, the Cathédrale de Notre-Dame-Immaculée on the Rock of Monaco will set the stage for a special concert on 14th March.
Featuring Monteverdi’s Vespers for the Blessed Virgin alongside the world premiere of Venezianischer Morgen, a choral work by Bruno Mantovani, the concert is the fruit of a collaboration between the Salzburg Whitsun Festival and the Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo festival. It will be conducted by Gianluca Capuano, with Les Musiciens du Prince set to perform alongside the vocal ensemble Il Canto Di Orfeo, led by Jacopo Facchini.
Mantovani’s Venezianischer Morgen, written for a cappella choir, was composed to suit the acoustics of the iconic cathedral.
“I divided the choir into two symmetrical groups to create an antiphonal effect,” he explained in a recent interview with the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
The Monaco Cathedral will set the stage for a special concert featuring Monteverdi’s Vespers for the Blessed Virgin alongside the world premiere of Bruno Mantovani’s Venezianischer Morgen. Photo source: Les Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo
Inspired by a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, the piece was commissioned following discussions between Mantovani, the Artistic Director of the Printemps des Arts, and Cecilia Bartoli, who heads the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
“The idea was to perform Monteverdi’s Vespers, and we considered adding a contemporary work as a complement,” said Mantovani. “Cecilia Bartoli then proposed that I compose a short introductory piece. One cannot control or predict how an audience will receive a work. In the end, composition is a solitary act—I write for the audience that I am. But I am always pleased when others connect with my music.”
The 2024/25 season finale
21st March marks a milestone for the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, as it will be 100 years since the world premiere of Maurice Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges on its stage.
To celebrate this centenary, the opera house will be presenting a special Ravel double-bill featuring L’Heure Espagnole and L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, staged by Jean-Louis Grinda and conducted by Kazuki Yamada, Artistic and Musical Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, over four nights at the end of March in the Salle Garnier.
A gala performance will kick things off on 21st March, followed by a matinee show on 23rd March and two evening performances on 25th and 27th March. The final performance will be broadcast live at 8pm on Mezzo and medici.tv. For more information, click here.
