Famous nightlife and restaurant entrepreneur Pepe Roselló celebrated his 90th birthday in front of 150 family members, friends, artists, and VIPs at his restaurant in Ses Variades, Space Eat and Dance, which had been decorated for the occasion with round tables, red lights, and flowers. The celebration featured a delicious dinner and a lavish party, with opera, dances, and live performances that set the mood from sunset to midnight.
Roselló was the founder and owner of such iconic and prestigious venues on the island as the restaurant El Refugio; the Capri-Playboy 1 nightclub in Portmany Bay and the Playboy 2 in the West End of San Antonio during the 1970s and 1980s; and, later, the creator of the legendary Space nightclub in Platja d’en Bossa in 1989, which brought him great international success and earned him several nominations for Best Club in the World until 2016.
The 90th anniversary celebrations of Roselló were marked by music and cabaret in various forms and began in the evening with a performance by guitarist Paco Fernández and his trio, who performed a repertoire of chill-out flamenco. The host described Paco as follows: “Ibiza has always been music, freedom, and gathering. Paco’s guitar reminds us that the beauty of simplicity can always move us.” This was the first act of the celebration program, presented in a small opera booklet divided into six main acts.
While the magnificent sunset bathed the celebration in a magical glow, the second act, titled “La Raíz,” took place with the participation of the Brisa de Portmany Folk Group, featuring folk dancing and traditional songs. The third part, titled “La Luz,” began with the shared ritual and the contemplation of the sunset.
The restaurant, adorned with enormous Versailles-style flower vases, bouquets of local wildflowers, and large LED lights, was decorated by floral artist Toni Riera. The room was filled with excitement as the host gave a speech thanking the guests for their attendance. ‘The sun sets, but the excitement endures. This is a special moment. “We are entering a world of opera, a new world with fantastic voices that will take us on a journey through the most important works in the history of opera at a sublime moment like sunset, a sacred act before the sea, where light and memory merge into a single image.”
The powerful voices of sopranos Lucía Herranz and María del Mar Vives, who performed various opera excerpts and arias live, captivated the audience in a splendid evening, with pleasant weather and mild temperatures. The two singers deeply moved the audience, who gave them a standing ovation, and their recital evoked some of the most beautiful moments of Pepe’s life; he remarked that “there are voices that never fade; they remain with us in our souls.”
Technology made an appearance in the fifth act with an audiovisual and digital tribute titled La Memoria, which recounted Roselló’s life through images, from his youth to the triumphant moments at Space. The tribute featured prominent artists and DJs such as Nick Fanchulli, Christian Varela, Steve Lawler, Wally López, Fatboy Slim, Carl Cox, Danny Tenaglia, Camilo Franco, and Smokin Jo, among others, who paid tribute to the legendary entrepreneur.
With the melodies of Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday,’ sung in unison by the guests, and Nat King Cole’s ‘Wonderful World,’ it was time for the cake – with a huge ’90’ – and birthday wishes. Pepe went over to the neighboring table to give DJ Carl Cox a warm hug; the two have shared great moments at Space. Carl was friendly and approachable, and posed for photos with some of the guests.
The sixth act closed the evening with acrobatic dances from the Sherezade cabaret, which gave way to the final dance and a closing toast with all the performers gathered around the host, thus bringing an unforgettable night to a close for everyone. A few days later, the party was repeated for the friends and international artists who have collaborated with Roselló throughout his long career.
