Dame Shirley Bassey received a standing ovation at the 5th edition of the Grand Prix Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards, held on 25th April at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo’s Salle Garnier, where she was presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Music Award.
The Welsh-born diva, renowned for her powerful voice and timeless performances, was the first honouree of the evening.The award was presented by Greek opera singer and PR manager George Davlas, who also hosted the event and performed during the concert that followed. Bassey’s heartfelt acceptance moved the audience, marking a highlight of the gala.
Organised under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco, the event was dedicated this year to children and orchestrated by Ioanna Efthimiou, a recognised painter and president of the initiative. The gala attracted distinguished guests from around the world, celebrating contributions to the arts and philanthropy.
Other notable awardees included singer Plácido Domingo Jr., Princess Olimpia Colonna Di Paliano of Rome, philanthropist John Christodoulou, the humanitarian organisation AMADE, ocean advocate Fabien Cousteau, maritime innovation leader Nicolas Sarrut, and Greek yachting entrepreneur Vasiliki Grigoratou.
A highlight of the evening was the performance by young musicians selected through the gala’s international competition. Their talent and stage presence brought fresh energy to the Salle Garnier and impressed the audience.
The evening drew to a close with a captivating opera concert featuring Plácido Domingo Jr., Victoria Bulieieva, George Davlas, Elena Kelessidi, Simone Piazzola, Greta Cipriani, and Giuseppe Vaccaro, each delivering powerful performances.
Meanwhile, the dramatic use of artificial intelligence to project a lifelike image of Maria Callas on stage was an evocative moment that stirred both awe and emotion among the audience.
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Main photo: Ioanna Efthimiou, Dame Shirley Bassey, Plácido Domingo Jr., and Georgios Davlas. Photo provided