Monaco Celebrates Art Nouveau: A Journey Through Music, Architecture and Nature with Cristina Ariagno

Monaco is preparing to host a new cultural event dedicated to the timeless elegance of Art Nouveau and the Liberty style. On Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 6:30 PM, the AGORA – Maison Diocésaine de Monaco will welcome the conference “LIBERTY: The Flower from Architecture to Music”, an immersive journey exploring art, music, landscape and botanical culture through the aesthetics of the Belle Époque.

The event will be led by pianist and scholar Cristina Ariagno, a specialist in early 20th-century French repertoire, invited by the OdP-TRIF Transboundary Landscape Observatory.

The flower as a symbol of Art Nouveau and Liberty style

At the heart of the conference is the flower, a defining symbol of the Liberty movement and European Art Nouveau aesthetics. Throughout the evening, participants will explore how nature inspired architecture, decorative arts and music at the turn of the 20th century.

From the flowing lines of Art Nouveau façades to floral motifs in decorative arts and musical scores, the event will highlight how natural forms shaped artistic expression during this era.

The flower in the Liberty period was far more than a decorative element: it represented a universal language of harmony, beauty and artistic innovation.

Cristina Ariagno and the musical world of the Belle Époque

Cristina Ariagno has built an international career dedicated to French music of the early 1900s. She has recorded over 15 albums and explored works by composers such as Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Erik Satie, Francis Poulenc and Reynaldo Hahn, contributing to the rediscovery of lesser-known figures of the period.

Her artistic approach blends music with visual arts and contemporary cultural projects, making her a key interpreter for a multidisciplinary journey into the Liberty aesthetic.

Debussy and Reynaldo Hahn: the sound of an era

The conference will include the listening of two emblematic musical pieces by Claude Debussy and Reynaldo Hahn.

These works will transport the audience into the refined atmosphere of the Belle Époque, a period in which music, art and nature were deeply interconnected in the pursuit of beauty and harmony.

Art, botany and landscape: Professor Marco Devecchi’s contribution

The scientific dimension of the event will be enriched by Professor Marco Devecchi from the University of Turin, an expert in landscape and botany.

His intervention will explore the role of flowers in cultural heritage and landscape design, highlighting the strong link between nature, architecture and artistic creation.

A cultural evening in the heart of Monaco

The conference will take place at the AGORA – Maison Diocésaine de Monaco, located at 18 Rue Bellevue.

Admission is free, but registration is recommended by May 12, 2026.

The evening will conclude with a convivial moment, offering participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and reflections in a relaxed cultural atmosphere.