Ibiza nightlife and hospitality entrepreneur Pepe Roselló celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by 145 family members, friends, artists and well-known figures at his Space Eat and Dance restaurant in ses Variades, San Antonio.
The venue was specially decorated for the occasion with round tables, red lighting and flowers, while guests enjoyed a dinner and a full evening of entertainment featuring opera, dancing and live performances from sunset until midnight.
Roselló is the founder and former owner of several of Ibiza’s most iconic nightlife and hospitality venues, including El Refugio restaurant, the Capri-Playboy 1 nightclub in the Bay of Portmany and Playboy 2 in San Antonio’s West End during the 1970s and 1980s.
He later created the legendary Space nightclub in Platja d’en Bossa in 1989, turning the club into an international success and earning several nominations as one of the world’s best clubs before its final chapter in 2016.
A birthday celebration from Ibiza’s roots to the light of sunset
Music and cabaret in different forms shaped Roselló’s 90th birthday celebration.
The evening began as the sun went down with a performance by guitarist Paco Fernández and his group, who provided their distinctive flamenco-chill-out sound.
Roselló described Fernández’s music as a reflection of the island’s spirit:
“Ibiza has always been about music, freedom and coming together. Paco’s guitar reminds us that the beauty of simplicity can always move us.”
It was the opening act of an evening structured around a six-act opera programme, detailed in a small printed libretto prepared for the occasion.
As a spectacular sunset transformed the setting, the second act, ‘La Raíz’ (‘The Roots’), featured the Grup Folklòric Brisa de Portmany, performing ball pagès and traditional songs.
The third act, ‘La Luz’ (‘The Light’), followed with what was described as a “shared ritual and contemplation of the sunset”.
The restaurant had been transformed with huge Versailles-style flower arrangements, bouquets made with local wildflowers and large LED chandeliers, all designed by floral artist Toni Riera.
The setting became the backdrop for an emotional speech from Roselló, who thanked his guests for joining him:
“The sun sets, but the emotion remains. This is a special moment. We enter a world of opera, a new world with fantastic voices taking us on a journey through the most important works in the history of opera, at a sublime moment such as sunset, a sacred act before the sea, with light and memory merging into a single image.”
The powerful voices of sopranos Lucía Herranz and María del Mar Vives then took centre stage, performing several opera excerpts and arias live.
Their performances were met with a standing ovation, as the singers recalled some of the most memorable moments of Roselló’s life through their recital.
As Roselló put it:
“There are voices that do not pass; they stay to live in the soul.”
From Marilyn Monroe to Carl Cox
Technology took centre stage during the fifth act, ‘La Memoria’ (‘The Memory’), an audiovisual tribute telling Roselló’s life story through images, from his youth to the international success of Space.
The presentation featured tributes from a number of prominent DJs and artists associated with Ibiza’s electronic music scene, including Nick Fanchuli, Christian Varela, Steve Lawler, Wally López, Fatboy Slim, Carl Cox, Danny Tenaglia, Camilo Franco and Smokin Jo, among others.
They each shared messages of admiration for the legendary Ibiza entrepreneur.
The birthday celebrations reached their traditional highlight with a giant 90-shaped birthday cake.
A video of Marilyn Monroe singing ‘Happy Birthday’ was followed by the guests joining in, before Nat King Cole’s ‘What a Wonderful World’ played as the celebrations continued.
Roselló then turned to the neighbouring table to warmly embrace DJ Carl Cox, with whom he shared many memorable moments during the years of Space Ibiza.
Throughout the evening, the birthday host remained close to his guests, posing for photographs and sharing the celebration with those attending.
Cabaret brings the night to a close
The sixth and final act brought the evening to its conclusion with an acrobatic cabaret performance by Sherezade.
The performers led the final dance before the evening ended with a last toast, with the artists gathering around Roselló to celebrate his 90th birthday.
It brought to a close an unforgettable night celebrating the life, music and legacy of one of the best-known figures in Ibiza’s nightlife history.
