Monaco’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe: A First Month of Cultural Programming Celebrating Music!

Since 15 May 2026, Monaco has held the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Alongside its political agenda, the Presidency has been accompanied by a rich cultural programme in Strasbourg, the first chapter of which has been firmly dedicated to music through five events showcasing the diversity and creativity of the Principality's musical scene. 

The programme began on 20 May, during the ceremony marking the transfer of the Presidency. A musical interlude was performed by the young Monegasque pianist Stella Almondo, whose talent provided a memorable opening to the programme. A performance of traditional dance by the Monegasque folk group La Palladienne also formed part of this symbolic event, offering another expression of the Principality's artistic diversity.

On 26 May, the Presidency's opening concert, presented by the Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo, gave members of the diplomatic corps the opportunity to discover Thirteen Ways of Being a Blackbird, a work composed by Benjamin de la Fuente and Samuel Sighicelli to a text by the American poet Kate Colby. Through this original creation, the Caravaggio Ensemble, blending influences from rock, contemporary jazz, electronic music and Western classical music, offered a distinctive musical experience in the very heart of the Hemicycle of the Palace of Europe, joined by violinist and singer Diamanda La Berge Dramm and violist and multi-instrumentalist Garth Knox.

On 5 June, under the direction of Pierre Debat, the Little Singers of Monaco performed at Saint William's Church. On that occasion, a large Strasbourg audience enjoyed a varied programme featuring works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Fauré, Saint-Saëns and Casals, together with several great classics of the French chanson repertoire.

On 11 June, at the initiative of the Prince Pierre of Monaco Foundation, a concert of sacred music was held at Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune Church. Performed by the Estonian choir Vox Clamantis, conducted by its founder Jaan-Eik Tulve, works by Arvo Pärt, Valentin Silvestrov and Helena Tulve were presented to an attentive audience, first captivated and then thoroughly won over. This deeply moving evening paid tribute to contemporary composers closely associated with the Foundation.

Finally, on 15 June, the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra performed at the Opéra national du Rhin before an audience of more than 500 people, including 150 invited guests, among them Mr Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and numerous European delegations.

Under the baton of Kazuki Yamada, the Orchestra performed several major works by Ludwig van Beethoven. The programme included the Coriolan Overture, Romance No. 1, Romance No. 2, and concluded with the celebrated Symphony No. 9. For this monumental work, the Orchestra was joined by soloists Mari Eriksmoen, Catriona Morison, Maximilian Schmitt and Johannes Weisser, together with the Monte-Carlo Opera Chorus.

Through this first series of events, the Principality has sought to showcase the excellence and diversity of its artists and cultural institutions. Details of the other cultural events that will punctuate the coming months of Monaco's Presidency are available on the dedicated website.