Princess Charlene was the belle of the Bal de Nöel on Friday night, as the highly-anticipated charity gala gathered more than 240 prestigious guests in the glamorous Hôtel de Paris for a festive evening that raised over €150,000 for the Princess’s Foundation.
The Bal de Nöel, now in its 18th year, is a highlight on Monaco’s festive social calendar. It was celebrated on Friday 8th December at the stunning Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris under the theme ‘Bal de Nöel Centenaire’, in honour of Prince Rainier III, and in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
Bal de Nöel organiser Sandrine Knoell with Princess Charlene at Friday night’s event. Photo credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace
Princess Charlene, her brother Gareth Wittstock and his wife Roisin, and Italian Ambassador in Monaco Giulio Alaimo joined around 240 privileged guests, who were welcomed into Monaco’s most iconic gilded hall by Santa Claus and a glass of champagne, before being entertained by a circus cabaret and live music.
Fine wine and Champagne by La Scolca and Poggio Dimadis flowed all night, while guests enjoyed a delicious three course meal prepared by Michelin star chef Dominique Lory and his team at the Hôtel de Paris.
Another highlight was a fashion show by haute couture fashion house Sabina Bilenko.
The Bal de Noël was themed in honour of Prince Rainier III. Photo credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace
While the magical gala is renowned for bringing the spirit of Christmas to life, the Bal de Nöel also raises significant funds for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, and this year there was plenty of support.
An auction organised by Sotheby’s raised more than €153,000 for the Princess’s Foundation and its projects for the prevention of drowning and the education of children through the values of sport.
Guests were treated to a circus cabaret show. Photo credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace
The Bal de Nöel is organised by Sandrine Knoell, founder of Five Stars Events, and was supported this year by Julius Baer Bank, Boghossian Jewellery, Moretti Fines Arts, and Xerjoff Perfume. Monaco Life was proud to be a media sponsor of the emblematic charity event.
Main photo: Princess Charlene with Sandrine Knoell (left), Italian Ambassador in Monaco Giulio Alaimo, Gareth Wittstock and his wife Roisin. Credit: Eric Mathon, Prince’s Palace
From Mayabay’s spell-binding Lantern Night to haute cuisine experiences at Monaco’s finest dining establishments, New Year’s Eve revellers in the Principality are set to be dazzled this 31st December. Read on to discover Monaco Life’s top recommendations for end-of-year celebrations.
Let’s kick things off with Monaco’s most iconic dining institution: the Hôtel de Paris’ Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse. This three Michelin-starred restaurant is promising a New Year’s Eve experience like no other, with an exceptional menu priced at €1,200 per person excluding beverages. The menu with wine pairing costs an additional €500.
There are three other options for dining on New Year’s Eve at the hotel too: Le Grill is offering a menu for €990 per person excluding drinks, while the Salle Empire will be hosting dinner with a show for €1,200 including wine. Dinner à la carte can also be enjoyed at the Bar Américain, where a minimum spend on beverages has been set at €750 per person from 10pm onwards.
There are plenty of New Year’s Eve options to choose from at the Hôtel de Paris this year. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
Over at the Hôtel Hermitage’s Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, a one Michelin-star restaurant from Chef Yannick Alléno, a six-course menu has been created specially for New Year’s Eve. It costs €990 per person. While a glass of champagne is included in the menu, wine pairing is at an additional cost.
The hotel’s Salle Belle Epoque will also be providing a dedicated dinner experience: a five-course dinner priced at €700 for adults, including half a bottle of champagne, and €350 for children. Dinner à la carte can also be had at the Limùn from 7pm, and the Crystal Bar will be serving cocktails and canapés from €40 per person from 7pm.
Just across the square, the Café de Paris is also set to host the inaugural New Year’s Eve celebration in its newly revamped locale. The evening will feature a curated menu priced at €450 per person, excluding drinks, and a special rate of €225 for children under 12. Click here for reservations.
Ring in the New Year at the revamped Café de Paris from €450 per person. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
The party atmosphere will also be alive and kicking at the Hôtel Métropole’sLes Ambassadeurs, where there will be dinner with a show for €975, excluding drinks. Yoshi has a special menu planned too, called the Menu Nenmatsu 2024, which is priced at €350 euros per person, not including beverages.
Down in Larvotto, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort will host a €610 per person occasion signed by Chef Marcel Ravin at the L’Orange Verte that includes half a bottle of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne. The hotel’s Calypso also has a €395 per person menu planned that includes champagne and live music.
A little further along the beachfront is The Niwaki, which is presenting two dining options for New Year’s Eve: à la carte with a minimum spend of €250 per person or an indulgent seven-course set menu priced at €350 per person, including a glass of champagne. Click here for more information.
Our final recommendation for New Year’s Eve 2023 is Mayabay,which will be transformed into a world of light for Lantern Night on 31st December. Expect innovative cocktails and an equally inventive cuisine. Minimum consumption is €400 per person. For more information, click here.
Mayabay will be hosting ‘Lantern Night’ on 31st December, with an à la carte menu from €400 per person. Photo credit: Mayabay
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
Nearly 100 members and friends of the Club Suisse de Monaco gathered at One Monte-Carlo in early December for a festive evening of live music and great food, including chocolates brought all the way from Zurich by a visiting Father Christmas.
On 1st December, the Club Suisse de Monaco convened for its annual Christmas party at One Monte-Carlo along with friends from the Club Allemand International de Monaco, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Music punctuated the evening, with Christmas carols from the Monaco Choir Belles creating a “warm and inviting” atmosphere and a set from the Goldsingers getting guests up and out of their seats for a dance.
“A highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the unexpected yodelling interlude by Monika Kälin, a new member of the club,” said Clara Bombari, the secretary for the club, following the party. “With her performance, she brought a unique Swiss tradition to the festive evening and earned thunderous applause.”
Another joyful moment came when Father Christmas, “who had travelled all the way from Zurich to sweeten the evening”, also provided a special surprise by handing out Swiss chocolate to all of the guests.
“All in all, the Club Suisse de Monaco’s Christmas party was a complete success, ringing in the festive season in style and providing all guests with unforgettable moments,” added Bombari.
The Club Suisse de Monaco was founded in 1949, making it one of the oldest associations in the Principality. Its aim is to maintain social and cultural relations between Swiss and Monegasque people, as well as other nationals living in or visiting Monaco, by organising informative events in the fields of economics, politics and health with high-level personalities.
For more information about the Club Suisse de Monaco and its upcoming events, click here.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
Photo (left-right: Mireille Müller, Club Suisse de Monaco President Arik Röschke, Vice-President Silvia Mischler and Monika Kälin)courtesy of Club Suisse de Monaco
In the past 48 hours, more than 1,500 reports of a malicious phone call scam have been logged in Monaco. Now the government has issued a warning to all residents regarding the deceptive campaign that is targeting unsuspecting and predominantly elderly victims.
Following a surge in the number of concerning incidents related to the scam, the Monegasque government is seeking to warn all residents in the Principality about a wave of malicious phone calls originating from foreign operators.
More than 1,500 such calls from scammers posing as law enforcements officers and lawyers have been logged in the last 48 hours, and many victims have been repeatedly targeted.
The perpetrators allege that a family member of the respondent has been involved or implicated in a serious traffic accident. They then try to coerce victims into gathering a significant sum of money or personal items such as jewellery to supposedly aid their loved one.
Vigilance urged amid escalating phone scam threat
Monaco residents are strongly advised to exercise heightened vigilance in the face of this scam. Residents are urged to resist responding to these calls and to refrain from complying with any requests made by the callers.
Those who receive such a call should block all associated phone numbers in an effort to prevent any further contact.
All calls should be reported to the Police Department. Contact information can be found here.
The Monegasque authorities say they are actively investigating the incidents to ensure the safety and security of Monaco’s residents.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
Three closely-fought games last week earned AS Monaco Basket a win in the Betclic Elite, but a rollercoaster experience in the EuroLeague. The Principality’s football team, meanwhile, secured a landmark 300th victory since Dmitry Rybolovlev took over as President in 2011.
A contest in the Serbian capital of Belgrade between Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and AS Monaco on 5th December saw the home team emerge as victors, with a final score of 89-85.
AS Monaco put up a strong fight, however, and Donatas Motiejunas led the team in scoring with 23 points, closely followed by Mike James with 16 points and eight rebounds.
In another EuroLeague pitting held on 8th December between Zalgiris Kaunas and AS Monaco at the Zalgiris Arena in Kaunas, Lithuania, AS Monaco secured a victory with a final score of 83-79.
Key contributors for AS Monaco included James, who led the team with an impressive 25 points and eight rebounds, and Elie Okobo, who added 12 points and contributed significantly with four assists. Alpha Diallo also played a pivotal role, contributing 11 points and five rebounds.
Mike James is pictured in the game against Zalgiris Kauna on 8th December. Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket
Closer to home, a thrilling Betclic Elite match-up between AS Monaco and Le Portel on 10th December saw the Monegasque side take the winning position, with a final score of 74-67.
The game unfolded in the north of France, where AS Monaco displayed a well-rounded performance, clinching crucial statistics with 35 total rebounds, 17 assists and five interceptions. Regarding their shooting accuracy, they achieved a 48% success rate.
Okobo was a stand-out player, with 16 points, as well as Petr Cornelie, who contributed nine rebounds. The team’s defensive efforts were highlighted by Matthew Strazel, who achieved six interceptions.
Resilient triumph over Rennes marks 300th win and second-place position
In a resilient performance against Stade Rennais on 9th December, AS Monaco secured a crucial 2-1 victory in the Ligue 1. It marks the 300th win for the football team since President Dmitry Rybolovlev’s arrival in December 2011.
The recent win against Rennes is the 300th since Dmitry Rybolovlev took over as the president of the club. Photo via AS Monaco Foot, Facebook
Despite facing a well-organised Rennes team, AS Monaco’s patience paid off with a first goal by Vanderson de Oliveira Campo. Despite Vanderson’s later red card, Monaco showcased determination, doubling their lead through Youssouf Fofana in the 85th minute. Rennes earned a late penalty, converted by Bourigeaud, but AS Monaco were already ahead and have now climbed to second place in Ligue 1 with 30 points in the 2023/24 season.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
Sass Café’s indominable style has been transported to the magical Saudi Arabian oasis of Al-Ula, where guests can enjoy a fine dining menu cooked nomad-style above an open flame and a glitzy décor juxtaposed with the stark desert landscape.
The ancient oasis town of AI-Ula dates back millennia, with archaeological finds suggesting it was inhabited as long ago at 5,000BCE. Situated in the north-western part of the country, it is known for being an important heritage and archaeological site, with one of the big attractions being the ‘Elephant Rock’, an imposing 52-metre-high rock formation.
Al-Ula is in its infancy when it comes to modern tourism – the French government signed a 10-year collaborative deal in 2018 with Saudi Arabia to develop the region – but it certainly knows how to provide quality hospitality.
Now this traditional desert locale is adding a very glamourous vibe to its exquisite setting with the launch of new address straight out of Monaco: the legendary nightclub and restaurant called Sass Café.
STYLE AND FLAMBOYANCE
Aside from the visual attributes of the luxe hotspot, Sass has also imported its “signature sense of style and flamboyance” to Al-Ula with a menu featuring a blend of Mediterranean and South American cuisines that come together with a dash of live, open-fire cooking.
Starters include taste temptations such as a burnt orange salad with quinoa, granola and parmesan, the iconic truffle pizza also served up in the Principality’s original address, and pasta dishes hailing from Southern Italy, like a tagliatelle al limone.
Mains cooked on the open flames include a black cod dish with yuzo miso sauce and baby broccoli, and a “butcher’s selection of the day” adorned with a chimichurri sauce and fire roasted potatoes.
Desserts are indulgent: a smoked banana with dulce de leche and light cream; date ice cream; and a smoked pineapple sorbet.
A live DJ accompanies the vibrant atmosphere of the place, which is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 8pm to 2am.
Reservations are not required, but are recommended. For more information on the pop-up, click here.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
It was under a clear blue December sky that more than 1,500 participants pounded the streets of the Principality for the 2023 U Giru de Natale charity run. Monaco Life looks back on a successful event.
With mild late autumn weather on its side, Monaco’s annual U Giru de Natale charity race took place on 10th December.
More than 1,500 people – young, old and everyone in between – participated in this event, which is more of a fun run than an actual competition, although there were prizes to be won.
The Monaco Fire Brigade ran with a young team member, a child currently being treated at the L’Archet Hospital in Nice, in all-terrain wheelchair for the Monaco Liver Disorder association, which was the official beneficiary of this year’s race. The Princess Charlene Foundation also received €2,000 in donations.
WINNERS
Though everyone who participates is considered a winner, there were some who finished the course a bit faster than others. The fastest for the men was a world champion triathlete, Raphaël Montoya, and for the women, it was a five-time winner of this race, Anne Tabarant.
On hand to award the prizes were: Patrice Cellario, Government Advisor-Minister of the Interior; Gareth Wittstock, Secretary-General of the Princess Charlene Foundation; Municipal Councillor Jacques Pastor; and National Councillor Pierre Van Klaveren.
Click on the photos below to see more from the event:
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
One of the world’s best loved supercar fanatics and social media influencers, Armand Mazloumian, is organising a charity drive of luxury vehicles through the streets of Monaco this December to raise money for the Princess Grace Foundation. Here’s everything you need to know, from the dates of the parade to how to get involved.
Earlier this month, self-proclaimed “supercars lover” Armand Mazloumian, who goes by ArmandMa1 across his various social media platforms, announced that he would be running a charity drive in the Principality from 16th to 25th December.
Mazloumian is a familiar face on the Place du Casino, a spot from which he livestreams footage and photographs of the most extravagant and luxurious vehicles in Monaco, and he is using his massive reach and popularity to get owners and drivers of supercars to decorate their cars with a special ‘Les Roues de Noël’ sticker and make a donation to the Princess Grace Foundation.
He’s calling it the ‘Wheels of Christmas’ in English, and says that the money raised by the donations will go towards projects and programmes supported by the foundation, which was launched nearly 60 years ago in 1964 by the late Princess Grace.
Mazloumian has already shared numerous photographs of vehicles that are backing his scheme on social media, such as a Hummer owned by DJ Max Mantovani and the Opel GT Roadster driven and showcased often by the influencer himself.
Alongside the main event, Mazloumian will also be holding a special family-friendly drive through Monaco on 23rd December. All of the cars taking part will be festively decorated and treats will be handed out to children as the parade drives by.
For more information about the Princess Grace Foundation and its work, click here.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
An exquisite evening celebrating family and friendship was had by all who joined the Monaco Ambassadors Club at its annual Christmas gala in one of the Principality’s most magnificent venues.
The stunning Salle Empire at the Hôtel de Paris was the backdrop for the Monaco Ambassadors Club (MAC) Christmas gathering on Thursday 7th December.
Decorated specially for the occasion with festive green and red accents under a theme of “classical Ralph Lauren”, it was a beautiful sight that was brought alive by the heartwarming combination of cheer and joviality.
Special partners
Monaco Life was among the privileged partners of the evening, which included Barclays Monaco and Bourgeois Bohème Fintech, the latter of which was represented by Willi Würms and his family.
Monaco Life Publisher Eric Brundage joined MAC President Christian Moore on stage during the event to extend a “Happy Holidays” message to all who had turned out in their finest for the special occasion.
Monaco Ambassador Club President Christian Moore on stage with Monaco Life’s publisher, Eric Brundage. Photo courtesy of the Monaco Ambassadors Club and photographer Alena Borodina
Other much-appreciated partners included Aldo Coppola Monte-Carlo, which was represented by Vladimir Usachev and Marina Nespor, and Le Roi de Caviar. Both companies provided gifts for the MAC members and their friends.
Special attention was also given to corporate member Paulo Ribeiro of Plenia Travel, which will be the “travel agency partner” of the MAC in 2024, and VistaJet as represented by Yvette Credes and Izzy Evens.
“Incredible” live music
One highlight of the evening was the “incredible” and “highly cultural” performance by Nikolai Kuznetsov, a former 2021 Monte-Carlo Piano Masters winner, who had been introduced to the MAC team by two soon-to-be members of the club, Raimund and Sophia Forster.
“He is a true prodigy,” said MAC Secretary General Alessandra Sparaco of Opéra de Monte-Carlo musician Kuznetsov.
Another high point for the club event was the official welcoming of three new members: Victoria Arkhincheeva and Mark and Marta Elborn.
For more information about the Monaco Ambassadors Club and how to become a member, click here.
See below for more photographs from the event:
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
A new law adopted in Monaco will see victims of sexual offenses and domestic violence, including children, get the compensation they deserve from the State if perpetrators are unable to pay-up.
On 7th December, the National Council voted unanimously in favour of a law put forward by the government, which aims to strengthen the protection of victims and the most vulnerable people in the Principality of Monaco.
The law allows victims of sexual and domestic violence, as well as other crimes, to be compensated by the State if the perpetrator goes bankrupt.
According to the government, the law will prevent victims of crimes being forced into financial difficulty, which would add to the moral trauma they have already suffered.
“It cannot be accepted that victims very often, after the trial, give up asserting their right to be compensated rather than be confronted again with their attacker,” said Minister of State Pierre Dartout in welcoming the adoption of the law. “The respect and protection due to victims must, in all circumstances, constitute the cornerstone of any criminal policy.”
The law is a result of work carried out under the leadership of the Interministerial Delegate for the promotion and protection of women’s rights, and undertaken by the Directorate of Legal Affairs and the Directorate of Judicial Services.
From the Antarctica-inspired Blue Ice down at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort to a champagne chalet on the Square Beaumarchais and a delicious crêpe stand in the Métropole Shopping Centre, here’s a guide to the best pop-up boutiques and bars in Monaco this Christmas.
Starting in the centre of Monte-Carlo, families will love the Christmas carousel and accompanying chalet serving crêpes, churros and hot drinks in the Jardin des Boulingrins.
The family favourite Christmas carousel in the Jardin des Boulingrins. Photo by Monaco Life
More festive treats can be found at the Métropole Shopping Centre where pop-ups such as the dedicated crêpes stand can be found at Level 0. Other pop-ups in the mall include: Maison Sacher and its famous Sacher Torte; Panettone Vogue; and Carolina Cake.
Two pop-up experiences await at the Hôtel de Paris. Firstly, there’s the beautiful Christmas floristry store from Stanislas Ducreux, which is selling a range of stunning gifts, decorations and miniature trees from Monday to Saturday throughout the holiday season.
Stanislas Ducreux’s florist pop-up at the Hôtel de Paris. Photo by Monaco Life
Then there is the opulent Winter Garden on the patio of the Hôtel de Paris (main photo), which has been adorned with twinkling trees, wooden sleighs, glowing candles and chandeliers, and elegant glasshouses designed to echo the cosy dining rooms of traditional chalets.
A short walk away is the Square Beaumarchais and the Hôtel Hermitage, which is hosting an outdoor champagne chalet pop-up until 5th January 2024. From the faux snowy terrace, visitors can quaff Veuve Clicquot champagne and enjoy luxurious accoutrements of foie gras and caviar. This sophisticated enclave is open daily.
Over on the Avenue de Monte-Carlo, the sea-facing street near the Casino de Monte-Carlo, more than a dozen Swiss-style wooden chalets have been erected. Here you can find a treasure trove of goodies, including gifts for friends and family as well as treats for yourself.
Finally, down at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is an Antarctica-inspired pop-up bar by the name of Blue Ice. Running until the end of February 2024, the usual Blue Gin venue has been transformed into a polar world complete with igloos, firs, stalactites and a very on-theme cocktail menu. Blue Ice is an evening destination open from 6.30pm until 1.30am that will be hosting resident DJ Nicolas Saad on the weekends.
Blue Gin at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort has become Blue Ice for the winter. Photo credit: Monte-Carlo SBM
Monaco’s Ward Moretti gallery is currently showing the Pieter and Olga Dreesmann Collection of works by Pablo Picasso, an acquisition that spans more than two decades and explores Picasso’s different artistic styles.
Dutch collector Pieter Dreesmann began his Picasso collection in 1998, maintaining a long-held family passion for art that began with his great-grandfather and continued through the line to his father Anton, who collected Old Master paintings and furniture.
Pieter was at the Galerie Cazeau-Beraudi in Paris when he spotted a little Blue period drawing by Picasso and immediately became infatuated. During this acquisition, he asked the gallery to give him the five most important books about the artist and began what would become an in-depth study of Picasso and his work.
It was at this point that London dealer James Roundell, who famously auctioned van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ for a record $39.9 million in 1987, came on board to advise Pieter in his acquisitions. The North Londoner spent the next 25 years helping Pieter and his wife Olga build a collection of 32 Picassos – a survey of the artist’s drawing style from his Blue period starting in 1899 to the year 1960, the last dated work in the Dreesmann collection.
London dealer James Roundell at Ward Morretti Monaco for the Dreesmann Collection presentation. Photo by Monaco Life
“We tried to find work that shows Picasso in his different styles – and he almost had a different style and different subject matter for every day,” explained Roundell during a private tour of the collection at Monaco’s Ward Moretti gallery. “It was quite an intellectual exercise, and also very unusual to work with a client with a specific target and plan over 25 years. Today’s enthusiasts buy works, they’re not really collectors. Peter and Olga are real collectors; they love looking for works, researching them, acquiring them, thinking about them and presenting them.”
Significantly, it is a collection that was built to be lived with. The works were displayed on one entire wall of the Dreesmann family home, framed in detailed 16th and 17th century Italian and Spanish frames. The idea was to create a collection rather than to acquire separate, unrelated works. No matter what they selected, the prime importance was both the quality of the objects and how any new acquisition might relate to works already in the collection.
The Dreesmanns’ Picasso collection hung on one wall in their home. Credit: Picture Succession Picasso DACS London 2023
“Pieter didn’t have 10 million to throw at a piece,” said Roundell. “Indeed you could spend 30 million on an old painting by Picasso. Yet you can buy this whole collection for that. So, you really get value in the drawings that perhaps you don’t find in the paintings.”
Moreso, this preference for drawings is based on the collector’s belief that works on paper are more immediate, more delicate than paintings; they are an intimate reveal of an artist’s passion and emotion.
For example, Picasso’s portrait of Carles Casagemas (1899-1900) is one of the most significant in the Dreesmann Collection. This crayon and watercolour sketch was reproduced in an obituary of Casagemas after he committed suicide the year after it was first created. The death of Picasso’s dear friend, the young poet, is said to have instigated Picasso’s Blue period, which features works with the subjects of life and death.
1900-1901 La Danseuse Sada Yacco / 1937 Femme hurlant sa douleur. Credit: Succession Picasso DACS, London 2023
Another highlight in this collection is La Danseuse Sada Yacco, a striking pastel, crayon and black ink on paper piece from 1900 or 1901, which depicts Japanese actress Sadayakko Kawakami, known as Sada Yacco. Trained as a geisha and married to a popular actor and director, Otojirō Kawakami, she first performed in European theatres at the turn of the century. This, said Roundell, is perhaps the beginnings of a theatre poster, but it was never realised as a completed project.
There are works that celebrate the Côte d’Azur, like Sur la terrasse (30 August 1933), in which Picasso transformed his lover Marie-Thérése’s head into a sculpture and set it on a plinth on a pavement surrounded by trees and the typical red-tiled roofs of Provençal buildings. There is also the pastel Trois baigneuses, Juan-les-Pins (1920), which depicts bathers at the beach, an ode to the Mediterranean and the place where Picasso and his first wife Olga would spend their summer holidays.
Adding depth to this collection are sculptures and ceramics.
Pieter and Olga Dreesmann
Each artwork and its provenance – predominantly Picasso’s family members and lovers’ estates – has been explained in detail in an extensive catalogue created with Picasso specialist Marilyn McCully.
Money from the sale will go towards acquiring the Dreesmanns’ next collection, the Dr. Anton C. R. Dreesmann Fellowship at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and to various philanthropic causes linked to the care of children with genetic disorders and special needs.
Monaco is the last in a year-long showing of the Dreesmanns’ Picasso collection that began at Ward Moretti London and featured in their galleries in Paris and New York. It will be on display until the end of this month.
“Having witnessed how Pieter and Olga have nurtured this high calibre, scholarly collection with James Roundell’s insight and advice over the last 25 years, it is a privilege to now be entrusted with the sale of these rare and important Picassos to new, discerning collectors and institutions,” said Emma Ward.
There were warm smiles all round as a beaming Prince Albert and glowing Princess Charlene officially launched the Christmas season in the Principality on Thursday 7th December.
The Princely couple were first pictured down at the Village de Noël on Port Hercule, which had opened for the holidays earlier that day. Together they pressed the big red button that lit up the massive Christmas tree in the centre of the Christmas Village, before greeting the crowds and dancers that had turned out to witness the festive occasion.
Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ Among those who joined Prince Albert and Princess Charlene down on the Quai Albert Ier were Princess Stéphanie, Mayor Georges Marsan, Minister of State Pierre Dartout and President of the Conseil National Brigitte Boccone-Pagès.
Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ Behind Mayor Georges Marsan, a live band prepared to play a selection of festive tunes to the many revellers.
Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco
^ Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and Princess Stéphanie spent some time greeting those who had ventured down to the port for the much-awaited opening of the Christmas Village.
Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
^ Later, the Princely couple, pictured here alongside Stéphane Valeri, the President-Delegate of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), headed up to the Place du Casino to switch on the lights of the star-topped Christmas tree in the heart of Monte-Carlo.
Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
^ Christmas is now in full swing in the Place du Casino.
Children under eight should pop their finest drawings into Father Christmas’ letterbox outside the Marché de la Condamine for a chance to win a prize!
Monaco’s Condamine Market is embracing the festive season with a special Christmas drawing contest for the young artists of the Principality. Aimed at nurturing creativity among children up to the ages of eight, it is an opportunity for little ones to unleash their imagination and potentially win a prize for their creations.
The competition is segmented into three age categories – under fours, four to six-year-olds, and six to eight-year-olds – and the children participating should be currently enrolled at a school or crèche in Monaco.
The three winners will be announced at a party on 18th December at 5pm, which will take place under the arches of the market.
But this grand reveal is not just about congratulating the winners, it is also a communal celebration that will honour the artistic endeavours of all the young participants.
A candy bar will be set up and, in the spirit of inclusivity, every child who takes part in the contest and turns up on the big day will be rewarded for their efforts with some sweet treats.
Parents are reminded to write their child’s name, school and a contact number on the back of the drawing. All submissions must be posted through the dedicated letterbox installed just outside the market.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
At a pioneering performance on 14th December, the Monaco Dance Forum will showcase an original piece entitled ‘C’estBeau !’ that features the talents of dancers both with and without disabilities. Here’s the story behind the landmark “inclusivity” creation from choreographers Cécile Martinez and Sophie Bulbulyan.
Back in July, during the highly successful F(ê)aites de la Danse event in Monaco, a wonderful idea was put in motion. The concept was to create a unique piece featuring dancers with and without disabilities. The result, which will appear on stage for the first time on 14th December, is a truly compelling and spell-binding production.
“We wanted to explore the notion of beauty by seeking to understand what makes it a carrier for personal, collective or even universal emotion,” says a spokesperson for the Ballets de Monte-Carlo of the production, which has received support from the Monegasque Association for the Aid and Protection of Disabled Children (AMAPEI), the Monegasque Association for Motor Disabilities (AMHM), Monaco Disease Power and Happy Hand.
ORIGINAL WORK
Choreographers from dance troupes 6eme Sens and DK-BEL, both companies that work with disabled dancers, selected seven people from the aforementioned Monegasque organisations to take part in creating a 70-minute original dance piece. The dancers were chosen for their talent, and the work has been a labour of love for all involved.
The philosophy of the piece centres around the how five senses are innate to humans, but it is the “sixth sense” that is most important in that it is “not what life offers us, but the meaning we give to it, however imperceptible it may be, like the simple desire to live”.
The show, which will be performed twice on 14th December, once at a 2pm special presentation for students and then again at 7.30pm as part of the Monaco Dance Forum, at the Salle Camille Blanc of the Grimaldi Forum. For tickets, click here.
Join the Monaco Life community – the largest English media in the Principality.
