76th Croix Rouge Monégasque Gala: Billy Idol in concert on stage at the Sporting Monte-Carlo

A flagship event of the Monegasque summer, this gala evening will celebrate the work carried out every day by the Croix Rouge Monégasque and pay tribute to the generosity of its donors, whose support helps to prevent and alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable. The 76^th edition of this charity event, a highlight of the Monegasque summer, will feature a dinner under the stars, the prestigious raffle and, finally, an exceptional concert by British rock icon Billy Idol. On this occasion, the artist Bernar Venet will donate one of his works, Generative Angles Painting – Red 11, to the Croix Rouge Monégasque, thereby demonstrating his commitment to solidarity.

The Croix Rouge Monégasque, serving the most vulnerable since 1948

Founded on 3 March 1948 by Prince Louis II, the Croix Rouge Monégasque was recognised the same year by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It is one of the 191 national societies of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and adheres to its seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. The Croix Rouge Monégasque’s mission is to assist the most vulnerable people impartially and without discrimination, to save lives and prepare the population for disasters, and to carry out humanitarian awareness-raising and prevention activities. It operates both nationally and internationally. The Croix Rouge Monégasque was successively chaired by Prince Rainier III from 1949 to 1958, and then by Princess Grace from 1958 to 1982. Since 17 December 1982, it has been chaired by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, whose 40^th anniversary as President was celebrated in December 2022.

A grand gala evening, combining glamour with generosity

Donors to the Croix Rouge Monégasque are expected from 8 pm in the legendary Salle des Etoiles at the Sporting Monte-Carlo, the setting for this two-part evening, in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, President of the Croix Rouge Monégasque, and H.S.H. Princess Charlène, Vice-President of the Croix Rouge Monégasque. The evening will begin with a gala dinner, prepared by Thierry Saez Manzanares, Head Chef at the Sporting Monte-Carlo, and the kitchen and sommelier teams of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. This will be followed by a raffle featuring five prestigious prizes donated by leading luxury brands. Hosted by prima ballerina Aurélie Dupont and journalist and TV presenter Harry Roselmack, the evening will be punctuated by the traditional fireworks display launched from the sea. Then, it’s time for rock music with British singer Billy Idol.

Billy Idol on stage at the Sporting Monte-Carlo

A rebellious and glamorous icon with a striking presence, the iconic British rock singer-songwriter will set the stage alight at the Grand Gala of the Croix Rouge Monégasque. For 45 years, Billy Idol has embodied the subversive and sensual energy of rock ’n’ roll. With his spiky blond hair, catchy voice and guitar, Idol transcends the ages. A working-class child from the suburbs of London, nurtured by his Irish mother’s love of music, William Michael Albert Broad made his debut in 1977 as the frontman of the band Generation X. In the spring of 1981, he arrived beneath the New York skyscrapers, Country Gentleman guitar in hand and sporting an Elvis-style pink Vesta. It marked the start of an international solo career that blends the pulse of the clubs and the drama of the silver screen with the brutality of punk and the shadows of rock.

Generative Angles Painting – Red 11, a work by Bernar Venet donated to the Croix Rouge Monégasque

Born in 1941 in Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Bernar Venet showed a strong affinity for art from a very young age. At the age of 17, he moved to Nice and worked as a set designer at the Opera before devoting himself exclusively, in 1963, to his artistic practice. That year, he created his first sculpture without specific dimensions, *Tas de charbon*. In 1966, Venet moved to New York, where he developed a body of work based on the use of mathematical and scientific texts, establishing him as one of the pioneers of Conceptual Art. The vast majority of his sculptural work in recent years has focused on the Line, whether it be the Straight Line, the Broken Line (Angles), the Curved Line (Arcs) or the Line freed from its geometric constraints, known as the Indeterminate Line. Having received numerous awards for his work, he founded the Venet Foundation, located in Le Muy in the Var, established with the aim of preserving his collection.