Wearing a top hat and tails, a performer raises his arms dramatically and directs the audience’s attention towards a colossal sign dangling high above him. Decorated in glittering letters that spell out the name of a superstar, the sign suddenly rises towards the rafters and the curtains slowly open.
A woman with a billowing white dress struts onto the stage. Her hips move, her head is crowned with blossoming flowers that tower one metre above her head, defying gravity. Two dozen skilled back-up dancers appear behind the star. The men don white, bellbottomed trousers, the women wear thigh-high boots and soft feathers in their hair.
The year is 1974, the star is none other than Josephine Baker and she’s pulling out all the stops tonight as she inaugurates the Salle des Étoiles at the Monte-Carlo Sporting d’Été.
Invited by Princess Grace
A mix of cabaret, theatre, dance and incredible vocals emanate from the stage. After only one number, the audience is already on its feet, trying to soak in every second of an evening that will surely go down in history. Halfway through the show, the star drives an army car onto the stage! She’s dressed in a military uniform and her dancers wave flags as a nod to her brave work as a spy for the French Resistance during the Second world war.
At the invitation of Princess Grace, Josephine Baker moved to Monaco with her family in 1972, two years before she inaugurated the Salle des Étoiles. The venue would go on to regularly host events like the legendary Rose Ball, the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival and the Red Cross Gala.
Josephine Baker, Tina Turner, Lady Gaga all perform “Under the stars”
Built by Group Pastor (a construction company chaired by Victor Pastor) and owned by the Société des Bains de Mer, the Salle des Étoiles is currently known as “the place to be” for music-lovers across Europe. Within its 1,000 m2, the venue boasts an extraordinary panorama of Monaco and the Mediterranean sea through its huge windows. Thanks to a removable roof, the stars of the stage beautifully mingle with the stars of the sky.
Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Cher, Elton John, Tina Turner, The Beach Boys, Lily Allen, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Bado, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have all shone onstage at the Salle des Étoiles since it opened.
The Monte-Carlo Summer Festival
Every summer since 1974, the year of the Monte-Carlo Sporting d’Été’s inauguration, the venue has welcomed the most famous artists from all over the world. Since 2021, some of Monte-Carlo’s other iconic locations, like the Place du Casino and the Opéra Garnier, have also hosted festival performances.
This year, the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival will take place from July 6 till August 16 in the Salle des Étoiles. The legendary Stars 80 will be supporting the Fight Aids Monaco association as it celebrates its 20th anniversary, while Jamiroquai will be performing at the Monaco Red Cross Gala on July 19. Audiences will also have a chance to see Trevor Noah, Sam Smith, Diana Krall, Duran Duran and Myriam Farès, to name a few. Lenny Kravitz, a true musical legend, who is turning 60 this year, will close the Summer Festival program with two standing concerts.
The 17th Monte-Carlo Summer Festival is sure to be an unforgettable experience!
Fun facts about the Sporting Monte-Carlo:
• Salle des Étoiles : 973 m2, 950 people for cocktail receptions, 802 people for banquet dinners.
• Salle des Palmiers : 590 m2, 770 people for cocktail receptions, 400 for banquet dinners, a terrace and a sea view.
• Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo : an exceptional nightclub with a terrace and lounge area: 601 m2, 400 people for cocktail receptions.
• Restaurant Coya Monte-Carlo: festive atmosphere and Peruvian cuisine.
