Tempo variations are in store for the 2017 line-up of the Sporting Summer Festival. The summer musical event will be trying out a new formula this year. The season was reduced to thirty evenings, from 28 June to 20 August. Especially concentrated between 24 July and 15 August and just fifteen diner-shows at the Salle des Étoiles. And many evenings at the Salle Garnier. “It’s an evolution. We wanted to seize the opportunity to put on concerts at the Salle Garnier, with different genres, on the one hand to liven up the section at the Casino Square. But also to invite artists who would not necessarily appear at the Salle des Étoiles,” explains the artistic director of the SBM, Jean-René Palacio.
Depardieu sings Barbara
This case in particular is one of the nuggets of the season, the arrival of Gérard Depardieu, two evenings at Garnier for two tours, to sing Barbara. An exceptional revival, from his acclaimed show at the Bouffes du Nord in Paris. In the summer program, the performer is headlining a season without mega-stars but instead with a constellation of musical stars. And of those loyal to the Principality: George Benson, Zucchero, Eros Ramazzotti, Deep Purple, Roger Hogdson in a rock-jazzy, variety vein. “They’re going to tell me: ‘Oh, the same ones’, but that’s our story, the fans of concert-diners enjoy coming in the summer and listening to these artists,” says Jean-René Palacio. This will be the case, for example, with Paolo Conte, who held a Monegasque concert for his farewell tour. On the other hand, his compatriot Andréa Bocelli will offer a lyrical recital as he has not participated in the sporting scene for a long time. If the Italians come in force, those representing French songs are exclusively feminine in the program. Veronique Sanson in July, Patricia Kaas in August. Just after the vocalists L.E.J., invited to perform at Salle Garnier and guarantee “youth” in the programming. Like the standing show from Americans Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who are expected to raise the ceiling of the Salle des Étoiles on 15 July.
Finally, like last year, the season will end on a musical. ‘Legally Blonde’ this year, adapted from the film: the revenge of a blonde, a success at the West-end in London. A final awaiting an autumn season that, Jean-René Palacio announces, “will be rich with other surprises”.
After Lana del Rey last year, the desire to rejuvenate the chic Red Cross gala is always in the cards. And this year, Christine and the Queens will be performing. A daring choice for the traditionally glamorous evening taking place on 28 July, but one which promises to be explosive.
Exclusive
Héloïse Letissier is only 28 years old but has already toured the world with her avatar, Christine and the Queens, and her electro-pop melodies have given her a few hits. Herconcert in Monaco will be an exclusive one. “She is doing nothing else this summer, no touring or festivals, but she has agreed to come for this charity evening and has joined the project,” said Jean-René Palacio, who convinced the artist. Behind the scenes, the trendy Christine was also influenced by Princess Charlène, who admires the artist and who had attended her concert in Monaco in 2015. An anecdote that Jean-René Palacio remembers is when Princess Charlène went to greet Lady Gaga backstage after her show in Monaco, she had offered her the Christine and the Queens album and invited her to listen to it as soon as possible…
The Program
At the Salle des Étoiles
– 28 June: Deep Purple, The Pretenders, Johnny Gallagher
– 3 & 4 July: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
– 7 July: Veronique Sanson
– 8 July: Stars 80 for the Fight Aids gala
– 15 July: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
– 28 July: Red Cross Gala
– 29 July: George Benson
– 1 August: Zucchero
– 4 August: Andréa Bocelli
– 5 August: Kool & The Gang
– 7 August: Eros Ramazzotti
– 8 August: The Cranberries
– 11 August: Night of the Orient with Majid El Mohandis
– 12 August: Paolo Conte
– 13 August: Russian evening with Gregory Leps
– 14 August: Michael Bolton
– 15 August: Renato Zero
At the Salle Garnier
– 24 July: Joss Stone
– 25 July: Pink Martini & Imelda May
– 26 & 27 July: Gérard Depardieu
– 3 August: L.E.J./Anna Kova
– 9 August: Patricia Kaas
-10 August: Roger Hogdson
– 16 to 20 August: “Legally Blonde”
