76th Monegasque Red Cross Gala: Billy Idol in concert at Sporting Monte-Carlo

An emblematic event of the Monegasque summer, this gala evening will honour the actions carried out every day by the Monegasque Red Cross and pay tribute to the generosity of its donors, whose support helps to prevent and alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable. The 76th edition of this charity event, a highlight of the Monegasque summer, will be marked by a dinner under the stars, a prestigious tombola and, finally, an exceptional concert by British rock music icon Billy Idol. To mark the occasion, the artist Bernar Venet will donate one of his works, Generative Angles Painting - Red 11, to the Monegasque Red Cross, demonstrating his commitment to solidarity.

The Monegasque Red Cross, serving the most vulnerable since 1948

Created on 3rd March 1948 by Prince Louis II, the Monegasque Red Cross 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 respects its seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality. The mission of the Monegasque Red Cross 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 and prevention activities. It operates both nationally and internationally. From 1949 to 1958, the Monegasque Red Cross was presided over by Prince Rainier III, then from 1958 to 1982 by Princess Grace. Since 17 December 1982, it has been chaired by H.S.H. Prince Albert II, whose 40th anniversary as President was celebrated in December 2022.

A gala evening combining glamour and generosity

Donors to the Monegasque Red Cross are expected to arrive at 8 p.m. 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 Monegasque Red Cross, and H.S.H. Princess Charlène, Vice-President of the Monegasque Red Cross. The evening will begin with a gala dinner, prepared by Thierry Saez Manzanares, Chef at Sporting Monte-Carlo, and the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer kitchen and sommelier teams. Next up is the tombola, with five prestigious prizes donated by leading luxury brands. Hosted by prima ballerina Aurélie Dupont and journalist and TV presenter Harry Roselmack, it will be punctuated by the traditional fireworks display fired from the sea. Then it's on to rock with British singer Billy Idol.

Billy Idol on stage at Sporting Monte-Carlo

A rebellious and glamorous icon with a striking presence, the iconic British rock musician and singer will set the stage alight at the Grand Gala of the Monegasque Red Cross. For 45 years, Billy Idol has carried the subversive and sensual energy of rock'n'roll. With his straight blond hair, catchy voice and guitar, Idol has lived through 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 leader of the group Generation X. In the spring of 1981, he arrived under the skyscrapers of New York, Country Gentleman guitar in hand and pink Elvis-style jacket. It was the start of an international solo career that blended the pulse of 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 Monegasque Red Cross

Born in 1941 in Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region of France, Bernar Venet showed a strong interest in art from an early age. At the age of 17, he moved to Nice and worked as a decorator at the Opera before devoting himself exclusively to his artistic practice in 1963. That year, he created the 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, making him one of the pioneers of Conceptual Art. The vast majority of his sculptural activity 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 allegiance, known as the indeterminate Line. Winner of numerous awards for his work, he founded the Venet Foundation, located in Le Muy in the Var region of France, with the aim of preserving his collection.