The President of the charity institution Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards , Ioanna Efthimiou thanked in her brief greeting the audience that attended this magnificent event highlighting the importance of charity , and mentioned that this annual institution is the revival of the legendary first Gala held in Monte Carlo in 1960 by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, with Maria Callas enchanting the crowds with her magnificent and unique voice.
She also stressed that this institution is a bridge of communication between Greece and Monaco .
The magnificent 2nd Edition of Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards with Monica Bellucci !
The second annual edition of the Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards took place with great success , and a number of important guests of the International jet set , and as main guest of the evening Monica Bellucci, who was awarded with the 1st Prize of Maria Callas Monaco Award with the title of the ‘ Best Artist ‘ of the year .
The Charity event was held Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco , in the iconic Salle Empire of Hôtel de Paris , Monte Carlo , by its President and founder, the internationally renowned artist Ioanna Efthimiou .
The magnificent 2nd Edition of Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards with Monica Bellucci !
The second annual edition of the Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards took place with great success , and a number of important guests of the International jet set , and as main guest of the evening Monica Bellucci, who was awarded with the 1st Prize of Maria Callas Monaco Award with the title of the ‘ Best Artist ‘ of the year .
The Charity event was held Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco , in the iconic Salle Empire of Hôtel de Paris , Monte Carlo , by its President and founder, the internationally renowned artist Ioanna Efthimiou .
They were awarded for their outstanding achievements in various fields important personalities from the world of the Opera , charity , as well as sports and Art , such as
the one and only Monica Bellucci who shone with her presence, Tom Volf, Mario Fragoulis, Myrto Papatanasiu, Dimitris Platanias, Clelia Haji-Ioannou, Katerina Panagopoulos, Marvin Gadeau, Vassiliki Castellana, Xaris Apergi and Costas Varotsos.
The magical evening was accompanied by a magnificent Opera Concert, a gourmet dinner , and a Charity Art Auction , where all proceeds were donated to the Princess Charlene Monaco Foundation’s causes .
This year’s Gala supported Princess Charlene Monaco Foundation, and its 27 projects for 19 countries all over the world , working for the protection of children in the sea and to prevent drowning .
Presenters of this glamorous evening were Emi Livaniou – Zisiopoulou and George Davlas, where they perfectly coordinated the event program .
In the wonderful Opera Concert that took place inside the magical and historic Salle Empire ,and the audience was impressed with their unique voice by the award-winning and internationally renowned and accomplished Opera artists Myrto Papatanasiu and Dimitris Platanias , as well as enchanted with his piano Yannis Tsanakaliotis and the young very talented Monegasque pianist Stella Almondo , all of them were applauded by the audience .
Monica Bellucci was awarded the 1st Maria Callas Award as Best Artist , for her outstanding performance embodying the role of Maria Callas in the performance ” Lettres & mémoires ” created by Tom Volf , and touring very successfully around the world .
Tom Volf was also awarded in the Best Director category .
Present were all the award winners including the leading tenor , singer Mario Fragoulis who was awarded as Best Music Artist of the year for his great and remarkable work that ranks him as one of the top artists in his genre , worldwide .
Well known artists and galleries donated Art works for the auction successfully organized by Artcurial Monaco after dinner , such as Carole Feuerman of Bel Air Fine Arts , Lina Condes , Marcos Marin , Jean Noel Chazelle , Erietta Vordoni , Costas Varotsos , Salin Erik , Art Box and Yellow Korner Monaco , where all works were sold and all proceeds were donated to the Foundation of Princess Charlene of Monaco .
The decoration was truly sensational , as well as the Art de la table, all within a flower filled decoration , created by the famous in Monaco Marco Traverso .
Guests were photographed on a wall of 1,200 fresh roses , 600 hydrangeas and pansies , in various colors , creating an environment that took off to the utmost aesthetics and perfectly matched the space .
The President of the charity institution Maria Callas Monaco Gala & Awards , Ioanna Efthimiou thanked in her brief greeting the audience that attended this magnificent event highlighting the importance of charity , and mentioned that this annual institution is the revival of the legendary first Gala held in Monte Carlo in 1960 by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, with Maria Callas enchanting the crowds with her magnificent and unique voice.
She also stressed that this institution is a bridge of communication between Greece and Monaco .
The Ambassadors of this year’s event were the couple of Roi and Vassilis Apostolopoulos, who stressed in their speech the value of extroversion and the promotion of Greece abroad through such kind of activities, as well as the importance of the cultural heritage and the timeless value of Maria Callas .
The event was supported by the Greek Consulate and the Greek Community of Monaco.
Among the prominent attendees were the General Secretary of Princess Charlene Monaco Foundation , Mr Gareth Wittstock who was the guest of honour of the evening along with Monica Bellucci, the Director of the Princess Charlene Monaco Foundation Mr Pascal Granero, the Consul of Greece in Monaco Mr Petros Machas with his wife Evelyn Machas, the couple Vassilis and Roi Apostolopoulou, the couple Clelia Haji-Ioannou and Konstantinos Skorilas, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his wife Orla Murphy, Katerina Lanara, Dora Pallis, Katerina Panagopoulou, the couple Konstantinos and Sofia Tsouvelekakis, Grigoris and Katerina Stasinopoulos, the couple Andreas and Alexandra Panagiotou, Louisette Grillo Azonglio, Serge Lévy Soussan, Michael & Dorina Cashier, Olga Taran, Katya Taran, Stéphane Sese, Nathalie Bijou, Tim Morley, the Hinduja couple, Victoria Silvstedt, Zeliana Horemi , Veronica Frantzeskou, Maria Lemonia, Iva Pastra, Giorgos Asimakopoulos , Odyssia Konstantoura , Sophie Haidenmenou , Angeliki Valkana , Jina Tsantrizou , Christina Nazou , Vasiliki Tsintzou , Evelyn Manios , Janet Xanthopoulos , Paulina Biliris , Victoria Volker , Veronique Alexandre , Emin Ersan , Karelle Traverso , Oxana Girko , and many others.
All guests were impressed and left with the best impressions , making an appointment for next year in the Principality, which is expected to be a magnificent 3rd Edition event due to the 100th Anniversary of the birth of the greatest Opera Diva of all time Maria Callas !
