Monaco's Council of Europe Presidency opens with cultural programme
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Monaco has launched a month of cultural programming to mark its Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, opening with live music and traditional dance.
The Principality's six-month Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe got under way in style on 20 May, when the formal handover ceremony featured a solo piano performance by young Monegasque pianist Stella Almondo and a traditional dance display by La Palladienne de Monaco, the Principality's long-established folk ensemble.
The cultural strand of the Presidency reflects Monaco's intent to use its term at the helm of the 46-member body not only for diplomacy but as a platform to project its artistic identity across Europe. The opening concert on 26 May marked the formal start of a broader schedule of performances and events planned throughout the Presidency period.
For residents and cultural visitors, the programme represents an unusually high-profile season of events tied to Monaco's institutional role on the European stage - one that goes beyond the usual calendar of private galas and festival dates.