18, harbour road -central plaza bldg. wan chai tel: +852
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18, Harbour Road -Central Plaza Bldg. Wan Chai Tel: +852-25220033 Fax: +852-28459678 E-mail & website consolato.hong [email protected] www.conshongkong.esteri.it
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NEWSLETTER
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Number 4 - May - 2012
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Dear Readers, Welcome to the 4th issue of our Newsletter! As always, our intention is to continue to keep you informed (and hopefully entertained!) about all initiatives and events relevant to the Italian community living in Hong Kong and Macao and keep up an effective way of communication with all of you. This time our main interest is culture as in the next few weeks there are many events scheduled in Hong Kong as well as in Italy - should you be lucky enough to travel in May - but we have also devoted an extra page to Prime Minister Monti's visit to China last March. Even though Mr. Monti did not come to Hong Kong or Macao, his visit to Beijing was a very important step for consolidating bilateral relations and strengthening the financial and economic cooperation between the two countries with future repercussions and effects for all of us in this area. The cultural calendar opens with the Salento Film Festival from 16 to 20 May. Salento is one of the most beautiful areas in the South of Italy and this year its festival directors, the Italian Institute of Culture and our Consulate General will bring to Hong Kong new international film productions which share a common link with this ancient land. I do hope you will be able to make some time for these movies despite your busy schedules. I will also have the honour to give the Salento Award to the famous Hong Kong actress Deanie Yip for her outstanding performance in the movie “A simple life”. On the musical front, on 21 May Le Poeme Armonique will put on stage an innovative performance of music and theatre celebrating Venice and its famous carnival, and on 1 and 2 June Italian American flautist Marina Piccinini will perform in the concert “Fount of Inspiration” organized by the Philharmonic Orchestra.. As for the visual arts, local artist Franco Anzelmo has put his most recent sculptures together in a solo exhibition at Red Elation Gallery which will run until 19 May. For those traveling to Italy, there is a list of great exhibitions not to be missed! In a diverse and culturally rich country like Italy, gastronomy deserves
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deserves its pole position too. This is why we have included further information on the opening of the Hong Kong branch of “Accademia italiana della cucina”, as well as some news on the successful outcome of the wine fair Vinitaly (Verona, 27-28 March), the events organised during the fair by Gambero Rosso, and two very unique and prestigious auctions of Italian wines that took place on 21 and 27 April and showed the increasing interest that our quality wines receive in China. Consular topics in this issue include information on the new contingency plans put in place by the Consulate and the forthcoming administrative elections in Italy. A column has also been reserved for the conference on Father Giuseppe Burghignoli organised by his grandnephew to commemorate his life and work in Hong Kong. I personally found this initiative of great value as the outstanding religious work done by many Italian missionaries in this region has generated a lot of respect and affection towards our community. Lastly, I would like to say a few words on our book “101 Italians in Hong Kong and Macao”. As you know, after postponing the deadline for submitting the texts more than once, registration has finally closed. We have received 140 contributions which will now be edited by Angelo Paratico, Gianni Criveller and myself. Do not doubt we will try our best to respect the integrity of your thoughts so that your voices can shine even more! As for your portraits, Margot Errante has so far been able to shoot 60 photos. Some of you said you would send your own later, some others could not come to the Consulate as they were not in Hong Kong at the time. As we would like to give a good consistent graphic layout to the publication, it would be highly desirable if the highest number of the photos were taken by Margot. We will let you know when she is available for another session of photo shooting at the Consulate with due notice. In the meanwhile, thank you for your understanding and good reading! Alessandra Schiavo Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macao
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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Background: Prime Minister of Italy Mario Monti
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VISIT OF THE ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO MONTI TO CHINA
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Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti visited the People's Republic of China between 30th March and 2nd April 2012. Mr. Monti - accompanied in all the talks by Ambassador Iannucci - met in Beijing with the Chinese Premier Mr. Wen Jiabao and with the President of the CIC sovereign fund, Mr. Lou Jiwei and gave a speech at the School of the Chinese Communist Party (which is attended by the next generation of Chinese leaders) under the topic “Italy, Europe and China on Transition: Challenges and Global Opportunities” Mr. Monti also went to Hainan to take part in the Boao Forum of Asia where he met with Vice Premier Mr. Li Keqiang and the Governor of the Chinese Central Bank, Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan. These meetings followed talks held with the Chinese President Mr. Hu Jintao at the international meeting on nuclear safety in Seoul. During the meetings Prime Minister Monti put forward a very important message: through the extraordinary reform efforts accomplished in only a few months thanks to a wide political consent and the responsible sacrifices made by Italian people, Italy is not a potential factor of crisis for the Euro zone anymore. On the contrary, Italy can be now considered a point of strength for the Euro zone and also a more and more attractive destination for Chinese investors, both private and institutional. During his meeting with Mr. Wen Jiabao, Sen. Monti stressed the importance Italy attaches to China as a strategic partner with which the collaboration in all fields should be strengthened. Mr. Monti also described the four main reforms adopted by his Government: the consolidation of the budget with the objective to achieve its balance in 2013, the reform of the pension system, the introduction of liberalizations, and the reform of the labour market (which is still under way). The Italian Prime Minister also stressed that the new policies undertaken by his Government can be considered a clear answer to the invitation personally made by Wen Jabao to European leaders to “keep their house in order”. During the talks, Premier Wen Jiabao mentioned that his visits to Italy gave him the opportunity to appreciate Italian arts and culture as well as the Italian industrial system, especially the SMEs, and their innovation capabilities. From his side Mr. Wen Jiabao confirmed his trust in the sound bases of the Italian economy and the hope that these foundations can provide a new period of growth, also thanks to the creation of a more favourable business environment. Mr. Wen Jiabao also expressed the wish that Chinese companies could consider the opportunities for new investments offered by Italy, hoping that the Italian system could introduce measures and incentives facilitating Chinese operators.
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In this contest he also stressed the importance of the new platforms aimed to enhance bilateral trade such as the three joint centers for the transfer of technology, design and e-government that had already been mentioned in the MOU signed in October 2010 between the former Italian Minister for Public Administration and Innovation Mr. Brunetta and the Chinese Minister for Science and Technology Mr. Wan Gang. The Chinese Prime Minister underlined the still unexpressed potential represented by the cultural cooperation between two countries with such a millenary culture as well as by the tourist sector, which could enhance “people to people relations”. From his side Premier Monti stressed the full commitment of the Italian Government to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of financial governance, also in light of the experience acquired in the management of sovereign debt. In Hainan Mr. Monti delivered a speech as guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum which this year, among others, discussed the topic “Asia in the Changing World: Moving Toward Sound and Sustainable Development”. The Italian Prime Minister's speech focused on the reforms adopted by the Italian Government, as well as on the perspectives of the Eurozone and the cooperation between Europe and Asia. With regard to the latter, Mr. Monti expressed the wish that a new phase of economic and financial cooperation represented by an increase of investments between the two sides, can be opened in the future. During the meetings held in Hainan, the Chinese Vice Premier Mr. Li Keqiang also expressed his appreciation for the reforms adopted by the Italian Government which has opened a new phase focused on Italy's economic growth. The meeting with the Governor of the Chinese Central Bank, Mr. Zhou Xiaochuan, was more focused on the financial aspects of investments of China's currency reserves in European bonds. Mr. Zhou stressed how the Italian bonds represent the main destination - after the German and French ones - for investments of reserves by the Chinese Authorities in the Eurozone.
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VISIT OF THE ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MARIO MONTI TO CHINA
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Cultural News
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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16-20 May 2012 - The Grand Cinema, 2/F, Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong-Kong CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS
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As announced in the last issue of our Newsletter, from May 16 through May 20 the Salento International Film Festival will bring to Hong Kong a selection of the best films screened during its last editions. Being SIFF a global event, the programme does not include only Italian films; the audience will be thus given the opportunity to enjoy some rarely seen gems of the international cinema. Founded in 2004 by Luigi Campanile, the Salento International Film Festival has emerged as a major cultural event and one of the top film festivals in Southern Italy. The 5 day Hong Kong event will also be an occasion to know more about Salento, Apulia and its fantastic food and tourist sights. On 16 May at 8 p.m. at the opening night of the Salento International Film Festival, the Consul General of Italy, Ms Alessandra Schiavo, will present actress Deanie Ip - winner of Coppa Volpi for Best Actress at last year's Venezia Film Festival and at the Hong Kong Film Awards - with the Salento Award for her outstanding performance in the movie "A Simple Life".
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16 (WED) MAY - 9.30pm SINESTESIA by Erik Bernasconi - Switzerland 2010 - Asian Premiere Cast: Alessio Boni, Leonardo Nigro, Giorgia Wurth, Melanie Winiger - 91'
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17 (THU) MAY - 7.30pm GHETT'A A LIFE by Chris Browne - Jamaica 2011 - Asian Premiere Cast: Karen Robinson, Carl Davis, Teddy Price, Kadeem Wilson, Chris McFarlane
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"Sinestesia" chronicles the vicissitudes of four young adults in two moments of their lives which are in turn linked to two dramatic episodes three years apart. The intervening years see the characters confronted by the usual joys and difficulties of everyday life. However, they also find themselves having to react to a destiny which, every now and again, places a crossroads in our way. (DCP) Language: Italian with English Subtitles
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Winner Best Cinematography Cannes Film Festival Derrick, a ghetto teenager, dreams of being Jamaica's next world boxing champion, but politics and tribal violence divide the country. His father, a loyal party supporter, forbids him from going to the gym, which is situated in a rival part of town. Derrick defiantly follows his heart but is confronted by the local “don” who threatens his family… Derrick refuses to give up and the ignorance of divisiveness soon gives way to the triumph of unity. Language: English with English Subtitles
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Cultural News
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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18 (FRI) MAY 7.30pm THE ROWAN WALTZ by Alyona Semenova/Alexander Smirnov - Russia 2010 Cast: Karina Andolenko, Leonid Bichevin, Valeriya Lanskaya - Producer Vladimir Esinov will be in attendance, 98'
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As World War II wanes, the Soviet government sends envoys to villages in northern Russia. Their mission is to teach teenage girls to defuse German bombs still embedded in the earth. Meanwhile, the rowan trees are in bloom; they blossom only briefly, yet their wood is resilient. And though so different in temperament, the two young girls in one village are also ripe for love. Marusya is a beauty who can sing and play the guitar, but is hopeless at chores. Polina is a young mother whose husband hasn't returned from battle
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Her addled sister sits in her own twilight world, making rag dolls. Polina's great fear is that her son might wander onto the minefield and be killed. Until recently, this field was prime land on which the village grew its wheat for bread. Now loaded with explosives, it has taken on an alien character. The high-spirited girl recruits are typically silly at first; they vie for the attention of the handsome soldiers charged with teaching them and refuse to take their role as bomb detectors seriously. Inevitably, though, accidents begin to happen and they realize that their future looks grimly earnest. Winner Best Film and Best Actress Karina Andolenko at Salento Film Festival 2010. Language: Russian with English Subtitles
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19 (SAT) MAY 4pm I GIORNI DELLA VENDEMMIA (DAYS OD HARVEST) by Marco Righi - Italy 2011, 80 min. Asian Premiere Cast: Lavinia Longhi, Maurizio Tabani, Marco D'Agostin, Gian Marco Tavani
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20 (SUN) MAY 4pm IL CACCIATORE DI ANATRE (THE DUCK HUNTER) by Egidio Veronesi - Italy 2011, 94 min. Asian Premiere - 94' Cast: Federico Mazzoli, Francesca Botti, Giorgio Paltrinieri, Augusto Gatti
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1984 was a very fertile year for the province of Reggio Emilia. Young Elia is working in the heat gathering ripe grapes and thinking about his future, which is still connected with a peaceful rural life that moves lazily to the rhythm of the summer weather. He doesn't even notice the quiet disputes of his parents anymore. His father, Claudio, is an avid supporter of Marxism, while his wife Maddalena is fully committed to Christ. In a short time Elia's life issues become true sorrows: the beautiful and experienced Emilia comes to their house and thus significantly disrupts his quiet
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Year 1942. The front of the war is still far and in a little provincial town, between the south of Modena and the river Po, Mario and his friends live their youth free and easy. Each of them has his or her own dream to fulfill: Loris, the Casanova, hopes one day he'll manage to go to Paris. In the meantime he begins a relationship with Luisa, who's engaged to Archimede, a young fascist. Oreste the motorcyclist dreams of a new motorcycle. Gino is the village fool. He lives alone, with a canary and would like to become mayor.
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contemplations about his own fate. Debuting director Marco Righi has shot a powerfully intimate story about growing up, showing not only the life experience of the "golden" Italian youth, but also how the historic feud between two powerful trends in Italian politics affects them. The formal style of the film also pays homage to classic Italian film. Language: Italian with English Subtitles
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Mario is the only one to be married and has a daughter, Alice. He dreams of giving her an old piano, for her to study music, just like he would've loved to do as a child. But the coming of the war and the mishaps of life will very soon end up to overwhelm their destinies. Language: Italian with English Subtitles
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Red Elation Gallery presents REALISMO FANTASTICO, the second solo exhibition in Hong
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VENICE, FROM THE STREETS TO THE PALACES by LE POÈME HARMONIQUE Magnifying musicians' performance with candle light to create a magical ambiance, this innovative cross-over art performance directed by Benjamin Lazar is not just a concert but a celebration of the Venetian spirit during the Golden Age of Baroque, when all popular forms of art and music flourished and true feelings and freedom of language were not yet stifled by cold rules. From inspirational and transcendent
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madrigals by Claudio Monteverdi to light-hearted and popular carnival street music by Francesco Manelli, it celebrates the diversity of a constantly moving art like the moon's reflection on a canal. Formed in 1998, Le Poème Harmonique is a group of talented musicians led by the artistic director Vincent Dumestre. While focusing on vocal and instrumental music of the 17th and early 18th centuries, they always enrich their performances by incorporating different kinds of arts. This unique style of teamwork blends with novelty and represents a hallmark on the Baroque music scene today. Hong Kong City Hall, Concert Hall , 21 May (Mon) 20:00, Tickets are available at URBTIX
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A taste of Italy at Le French May
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Program RESPIGHI Fountains of Rome IBERT Flute Concerto TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No.3 Polish The concert will take place on 1-2 June 2012 at 8 pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Concert Hall. For more information: http://www.hkpo.com/eng/concerts_and_ticket/concerts/concertdetail.jsp?id=269
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Kong by Hong Kong-based Italian artist Franco Anzelmo. The exhibition showcases recent sculptural works representing human figures in modeled fiber and various other materials. “Sculpture - says Franco - is an eternal form of art, since the works live on beyond the artist”. Each figure reflects the artist's imagination and stories from his real life experiences.
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A TOUCH OF ITALIAN MUSIC The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Fount of Inspiration”, a concert by Italian American virtuoso flautist Marina Piccinini directed by Hans Graf. Tchaikovsky's third symphony was composed at a time of deep self-doubt, but it's impossible to fully appreciate it by simply listening to its music. Infused with sunlight and cheerful dances, including a polonaise which gave the name to the piece, this symphony is full of delight. Respighi's Fountains of Rome depicts four great monuments and is a tribute to the city's historical obsession with pure water and sculpture. Respighi chose to depict each fountain at a different time of the day - a picture of the Immortal City itself as much as of its fountains. Ibert's Flute Concerto, a dazzling showpiece for our soloist Marina Piccinini, bubbles away with good humour and just a hint of jazz.
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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For lovers of Italian classical music
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A taste of Italy at Le French May
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REALISMO FANTASTICO BY FRANCO ANSELMO
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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EXHIBITION
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Cultural News
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Background: Le Nozze di Cana by Veronese
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“Vincenzo Gonzaga. Il fasto del potere”(Vincenzo Gonzaga, the splendour of power) 18 February - 10 June - Mantua, Palazzo Ducale Thanks to an event of great fascination housed in the prestigious halls of the Diocesan Museum Francesco Gonzaga, Mantua can relive the most famous and influential phase of its history. It is the first time that an exhibition is entirely dedicated to the Duke Vincenzo I Gonzaga. Eighteen Gonzaga dukes ruled for four hundred years over Mantua; however, if you need to designate just one representative of the powerful dynasty in all their strengths and limitations, the choice is definitely on him, Vincenzo. On the occasion of the fourth centenary of his death, paintings, jewelry and an extensive collection of documents and memorabilia are exhibited to give visitors an accurate glimpse into an incomparable age marked by Vincenzo's magnificence and pomp of power. During the exhibition period, Vincenzo's rooms in the Ducal Palace are also open to the public.
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La Grande Piccola Maesta' di Ambrogio Lorenzetti (The Great and Small Majesty) by Ambrogio Lorenzetti 14 February-17 June - Sede della Soprintendenza BSAE di Siena e Grosseto Exhibited in Catanzaro as part of an event dedicated to gods and myths, the masterpiece by Ambrogio Lorenzetti is now on view in Siena until June. This relatively small painting, which over a thousand visitors have already admired on the 'vernissage calabrese” day, represents a visual summa of fourteenth century Sienese art and has been chosen for this reason as the subject of a monographic exhibition in the city. Restored and now protected in an air-conditioned showcase thanks to funding from the Calabrese town, the work can be fully enjoyed by the public without prejudice to its preservation.
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Welcome to Art HK 12 Back for its fifth year, ART HK 12 will take place 17-20 May 2012, preview 16 May, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This year, ART HK 12 will showcase the very best in contemporary art from 266 galleries representing 39 International territories. Widely acknowledged as an important platform for networking in the international art community, ART HK brings together leading collectors, curators, artists and galleries from across Asia and the rest of the world. Quite a few Italian Galleries are among the exhibitors this year, some of them coming for the first time and showing important contemporary Italian artists. For more information visit: http://www.hongkongartfair.com/
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For the lucky ones travelling to Italy
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EXHIBITION
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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EXHIBITION
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Cultural News
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Background: Venere by Botticelli
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“ Mirò! Poesia e luce” (Mirò! Poetry and Light) 16 March-10 June - Chiostro del Bramante, Rome The exhibition collects more than 80 works never shown before in our country by the Catalan genius born in 1893 and covers his entire artistic production between the years 1908-1981. It includes 50 oils of surprising beauty and of great size, but also pottery, bronzes and watercolors by the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró in Palma de Mallorca, which houses the artist's most important works.A special section is devoted to the works created during the thirty years when Miró lived in Mallorca (from 1956 until his death in 1983), a particularly happy period for the artist who finally had at his disposal a large studio and a workshop in direct contact with nature, his muse, the origin of new ideas and an inspiration for many of his works.
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“Da Vermeer a Kandinsky. Capolavori dai musei del mondo a Rimini” (From Vermeer to Kandinsky. Masterpieces from the museums of the world in Rimini) 21 January - 3 June, Rimini Castel Sismondo
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Thanks to the participation of many of the museums that have collaborated with Linea d'ombra since 1996, the exhibition has been conceived as a great excursus through the history of art from the mid-15th to the 20th century easily understandable by all. The exhibition highlights the centuries of greatest splendor of each of the main countries that have contributed most to the history of art. Within each century, especially for Italy, the most representative region for the period in question has been selected. 18th-century Italy is represented by Venetian paintings by Canaletto, Guardi, Tiepolo and Bellotto whereas Tuscany and the Veneto highlight the 16th century and artistic works inspired by Caravaggio have been chosen for the 17th century. The works selected for the exhibition enable us to go right to the heart of the artists' world and offer a large panoramic view over important masterpieces by some of the main artists of the last five centuries in Europe and America. The catalogue of the exhibition includes contributions by the world's leading art experts.
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Cultural News
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Dalì: Un artista, un genio (Dali: an artist, a genius) 9 March-1 July - Complesso del Vittoriano, Piazza Venezia, Rome Almost sixty years after the last retrospective on the influential and controversial Spanish surrealist artist (Figuere, Spain 1904 -1989), a major exhibition including oils, drawings, documents, photographs, films, and personal letters is held in Rome. Dalì was purposefully very eccentric and as much a work of art himself as any of his creations. He claimed that the extraordinary curved moustache he sported was inspired by 17th-century Spanish master painter Diego Velázquez. In addition to painting, Dalì's expansive oeuvre includes jewelry design, stage sets, architecture and film. In 1929, Dalí collaborated with surrealist film director Louis Bunuel on the script for the classic short film Un Chien Andalou. The most well-known of his film projects is probably the dream sequence in Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound, which heavily dwelves into themes of psychoanalysis. He also worked on the Disney short film Destino, completed after his death by Baker Bloodworth and Roy E. Disney. It contains dreamlike images of strange figures flying and walking about.
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Tintoretto 25 February - 10 June - Palazzo delle Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome Jacopo Robusti, known as Tintoretto (1519-1594), is the only major 16th century Italian painter not to have had a major monographic exhibition devoted to his work thus far. In a style of intense impact and broad sweeping brush strokes, the artist produced works of such large scale that their mere physicality makes moving them a major installation task. The exhibition, focusing on three distinguishing themes -- religion, mythology and portraiture -- is divided into sections comprising several carefully selected lauded masterpieces, beginning and ending with his two celebrated self-portraits of himself as a young man, on loan from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and as an old man, on loan from the Louvre. The exhibition comprises 40 paintings accompanied by a section devoted to the artistic environment contemporary with the Venetian master. Among the many celebrated works on display is the spectacular "Miracle of the Slave" painted in 1548 for the Scuola Grande di San Marco. With this painting, Tintoretto became known as one of the leaders of the Venetian art scene. The exhibition closes with "The Deposition" (1594) from the Monastery of San Giorgio Maggiore, possibly the last work in which it is possible to identify the hand of the master. Visitors will also have the opportunity to witness the unprecedented and spectacular juxtaposition of the "Last Supper" from the Venetian church of San Trovaso with another version of the same subject, from the church of San Paolo, painted five years later.
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EXHIBITION
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Cultural News
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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Background: Vocazione di San Matteo by Caravaggio
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Cultural News
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Hong Kong welcomes “Accademia Italiana della Cucina” - 2nd Part. Do you want to know more? As highlighted in our previous issue, “Accademia Italiana della Cucina” finally launched its Hong Kong Delegation on Friday 30th March 2012. Celebrations opened in true Italian style with a magical evening titled “Picatrix” after a pre-Columbus Italian menu (therefore before the introduction of ingredients like potatoes or tomatoes) prepared by Chef Paolo Monti and ideally marking the birth of the Hong Kong Delegation. The dinner was held at renowned Gaia Restaurant at the presence of the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, Ms. Alessandra Schiavo (an enthusiastic member herself!), the President of the “Accademia Italiana della Cucina”, Mr. Giovanni Ballarini, the Vice President, Mr. Benito Fiore, the President of the Hong Kong Delegation, Mr. Savio Pesavento, and its other dynamic members. Established in Milan, Italy in 1953, with over 7,500 members worldwide, 212 Delegations in Italy and 78 abroad, “Accademia Italiana della Cucina” is the authoritative expression of the founding members' passion for the historical and gastronomical culture of our country as well as for the need to safeguard culinary traditions through the education in the art of the Italian Cuisine. Together with its sister organisations in Mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou), the Hong Kong Delegation will honor the Italian culinary culture and tradition in a city which is undoubtedly in the Hall of Fame of the world's capitals of taste. The Hong Kong Delegation is moving its first steps in this always-on-the-move environment thanks to the hard work and passion of its members and to the excellent choice of food and the outstanding quality of the cuisine offered by the many Italian restaurants, importers and distributors of Italian products. Mr. Savio Pesavento, the President of the Hong Kong Delegation, said that the “Accademia” was established, “to preserve the Italian tradition, Italian products and the knowledge of our cuisine and to educate the public on Italian traditions”. “To join the Accademia as an Academic (a member) - added Mr. Pesavento “ - a person needs proven knowledge of Italian produce, Italian cooking techniques and cooking traditions and have an interest in exploring specific themes within the Italian cuisine”. During the event, the Consul General of Italy in Hong Kong, who has committed her full support to establishing this renowned cultural Institution in our city, declared that “As one of the leading culinary and gourmet capitals of the world given the diversity of foods from Asia available here, Hong Kong provides the ideal platform for the “Accademia” to launch and promote Italian culinary traditions where aficionados of Italian food can indulge and meet with other food lovers.” For those who wish to know more, the Accademia Italiana della Cucina's website has comprehensive information on the organisation's role in the promotion of Italian culture.
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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www.accademiaitalianacucina.it
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Commercial News
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Commercial News
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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The Ambassador of Italy in the People's Republic of China in Hong Kong to promote the Italian wine. On 27 April Hong Kong hosted the fourth edition of “Vendemmia d'Artista”, a charity event organized by the Frescobaldi family to blend harmoniously contemporary arts and the world of wine. The bottles, made unique by the hands of artist Zhang Huan, were sold during an auction at Sotheby's, the proceeds of which will be donated to H2 Foundation for Arts and Education “Luo Zhongli Scholarship”. In a market like Hong Kong, always-on-the-move and increasingly committed to quality, the event constituted an unmistakable opportunity to showcase Italian wine and was highlighted by the presence of the Ambassador of Italy to the People's Republic of China, Mr. Attilio Massimo Iannucci. “Events like the Frescobaldi's Vendemmia d'Artista - Ambassador Iannucci declared - have a meaning that goes beyond noble fund-raising intentions because they contribute to promoting among the Chinese public the style and real traditions of the ancient Italian families whose names are one with the most important wines of Italy.” “In the last few months - Ambassador Iannucci continued - the Embassy has been fully committed to promoting Italian wine and I have personally travelled to all corners of China to support several initiatives organised to increase the presence of our quality food and wine products, symbol of our traditions, our lands and icons of the Italian lifestyle around the world. The forthcoming Italian National Day will also represent a further exceptional opportunity to promote the image of our Country in China”. The auction organised by the Frescobaldi family was preceded on 21 April by the second edition of the Gelardini & Romani Wine Auction, which confirmed the rising interest in Hong Kong for the most renowned Italian wines. During the auction, Luca Martini, winner of the award as best sommelier in Italy, guided 90 lucky guests in the tasting of more than 20 mature Italian Gran Cru which were specially matched for the occasion with special Italian dishes by Chef Andrea Spagoni. (From left to right: Axel Heinz, Andrea Orsini Scataglini, Don St Pierre, Ferdinando Frescobaldi, Rosaria Frescobaldi, H.E. Amb. Attilio Massimo Iannucci, Zhang Huan, Alessandra Schiavo, Alex Belson.)
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Vinitaly Vinitaly is the event that more than any other has followed the evolution of the national and international wine system, helping to make wine a very captivating and dynamic reality. The 46th edition of Vinitaly - the International wine and spirits fair held yearly in Verona - took place on 25-28 March 2012. This year the show days were reduced from 5 to 4 - Sunday till Wednesday - a change in the formula that helped to optimize attendance by specialized traders arriving from all over the world. More than 140,000 operators from 120 different countries joined the fair with a 35% increase of international visitors as well as a major growth for Italian Horeca segment (hotel/restaurant/catering). There was also a significant and qualified attendance from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, India, South America and the United States. A great media attendance was also achieved with more than 2,500 accredited journalists representing 170 radio and TV stations, 105 newspapers and 110 online publications from over 45 countries. A new important addition to this year event was “Vivit”, an exhibition dedicated for the first time to wines from organic and biodynamic agriculture which are increasingly attracting the interest of consumers.
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On 25th March, opening day of the 46th edition of Vinitaly, Gambero Rosso organised a gala tasting event that featured all the 375 Tre Bicchieri wines selected for the Vini d'Italia 2012 guidebook. This unique guide by Gambero Rosso has reached its 25th edition and its first Chinese version was presented in Hong Kong in November 2011, confirming the central role of this Special Administrative Region as a strategic hub for the Asian wine trading. Vini d'Italia 2012 has awarded wines from all over Italy. The regions with the greatest number of Tre Bicchieri wines are Piedmont with 72, Tuscany 62, Veneto 34, Friuli 26, Alto Adige 25, Marche and Lombardy with 18, Campania 17, Sicily 16, Emilia Romagna 15, Sardinia 13, Abruzzo 11, Apulia 10, Umbria and Trentino 9, Liguria and Valle d'Aosta 5.
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Gambero Rosso at Vinitaly
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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Commercial News
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Commercial News
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Ms. Stefania Lupi interviews the Greater China Country Managing Director for Bulgari Group Mr. Lelio Gavazza
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Pacific Place, Elements mall, The Peninsula shopping mall, IFC mall and The Lee Gardens”. And now, how is the brand going to develop? “We will continue to exploit the potentialities of all different categories in our portfolio”, continues Mr Gavazza, “in particular, we will strongly boost the accessory segment, continuing to make new and iconic launches in the perfume and jewellery categories. We will also consolidate the brand by developing and strengthening our market share of high-end watchmaking. The hotel project is also another area of interest we will concentrate on by continuing to search for potential sites in the major cities and tourist destinations worldwide”. Bulgari's history in Hong Kong is filled with special moments: “When we established our own office in Hong Kong in 2001, we decided to take direct control of the distribution, marketing campaigns and so on, thus offering customers the best Bulgari experience possible”, adds Mr Gavazza. “As our brand started to diversify, we also brought in a wider range of products for the local customers, including perfumes, eyewear and accessories. In 2008 and 2009, we opened two accessories stores in Pacific Place and Elements respectively which showed our confidence in Hong Kong and our commitment to continue to invest in this important market”. And what are your future plans? “We will continue to be a forerunner in the luxury goods business by being innovative in our product creations and visible in all forms of media”, concludes Mr Gavazza. “Moreover, the alliance with LVMH will certainly lead to further expansion in the areas with the highest potentials worldwide and to the consolidation of the brand's prestige and visibility in the more mature markets. These prospects, combined with the many product launches and communication initiatives, will lead to a long-term growth of a brand that in 127 years has contributed to writing the history of jewellery and has still got a lot to say in terms of quality and creativity”.
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Bulgari: the art of jewellery making A masterpiece. Exclusive, timeless. Each piece of Bulgari creations is unique. The secret? Hand selected materials joined with inspired design and flawless technical precision. All over the world Bulgari is synonymous with luxury Italian style. In Hong Kong, Bulgari first entered the market in 1988 and the popularity of the brand continued to grow in the following few years. “We started with two stores in The Landmark and The Peninsula shopping mall under our joint-venture with the Dickson Group”, says Mr. Lelio Gavazza, Managing Director of Greater China Bulgari Asia Pacific Ltd. “Later in 2001, we bought back the business, established our own office in Hong Kong and opened a third outlet in Pacific Place. The following year, in 2002, a new two-floor flagship store opened in Chater House. The popularity of the brand continued to grow and in the following few years, we established three new stores in IFC, Elements and The Lee Gardens respectively. We currently operate six ownership stores in Hong Kong.: Chater House,
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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Commercial News
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THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG IS GROWING IN NUMBERS The Italian community in Hong Kong and Macao continues to grow steadily as the total registration of 2,331 nationals at the end of March 2012 shows. This data represents a 5% increase in the number of new residents during the first quarter of 2012, following a trend which, in perspective, appears to be even stronger than in the past, when the community grew at a yearly pace of 9-10%. The Italian community also appears to get more and more younger (with minors accounting for about 30% of the residents). It is mainly composed by managers and businessmen who have moved to Hong Kong in the last few years (in most of the cases together with their families) to work for Italian, foreign or local companies. The phenomenon of “highly skilled” migration to Hong Kong, which stresses the importance of the S.A.R. as an international hub for business and finance, is also in line with the results of a research recently conducted by the international headhunting company “Amrop” that shows a 50% increase during the past 5 years in the number of Italian managers moving abroad to work for foreign companies in Europe as well as in India and China
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A YOUNG ITALIAN NATIONAL SELECTED FOR THE HONG KONG RUGBY TEAM Our sincere congratulations to the young Italian national Michele Sepulcri, who has been recently selected to play for the Under-14 Hong Kong rugby team. Michele and his 23 mates of the Hong Kong national team toured Malaysia between the end of March and the beginning of April and played two matches against a local representative team. We wish “our” young Michele a call up to the Hong Kong rugby team in the near future!
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NEW CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG The Consulate General has recently put in place a new contingency plan for all Italian residents in Hong Kong in order to provide assistance in cases of general emergency or natural disasters. Details of the plan have already been communicated to the Italian residents via email. Nationals who would be interested to request further information or who have not received previous communications on this matter, can write to the following Consulate General's email address: [email protected]
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Consular News
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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ITALIAN ADMINISTRATIVE ELECTIONS 2012 A new round of Administrative Elections will take place in various Italian municipalities between the months of May and June 2012. All related information, including the list of the interested Italian regions and municipalities and discounted services extended to voters travelling from and to Italy, are available at the following links (in Italian only), also accessible from the website of the Consulate General: 2012 Elezioni Amministrative - Turno annuale di elezioni amministrative nelle Regioni a Statuto ordinario di domenica 6 e lunedi' 7 maggio 2012, con eventuale ballottaggio domenica 20 e lunedi' 21 maggio 2012. - Elenco dei Comuni. - Agevolazioni di viaggio autostradali in occasione delle elezioni nelle Regioni a Statuto ordinario, Friuli Venezia Giulia e Sicilia. - Fissazione delle date per le elezioni comunali in Sardegna e per le elezioni comunali in Valle d'Aosta, Trentino Alto-Adige e Sardegna. - Nuova Convenzione Trenitalia/ Ministero dell'Interno per i viaggi degli elettori - Nuova dichiarazione sostitutiva - Riduzioni riservate agli elettori (Residenti in Italia e all'estero) Novita' 2012.
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Background: Map of Italy
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Consular News
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The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong & Macao (ICC) is pleased to invite you to the following events: ** 4 May, 6-8 pm - Italian-Polish Joint Networking Event at DiVino Wine Bar & Restaurant, a networking opportunity with the Italian and Polish Chambers of Commerce. Fee: HK$150 for ICC and (Italian Young Professionals) IYP Members; HK$200 for non-Members (2 drinks + canapés incl) ** 5 May, 10:00 am- 5:00 pm - ITALIAN FASHION workshop organized in collaboration with HKU SPACE For any inquiries, please contact HKU Space, T: 3762 0806 // E: [email protected] ** 10 May - Lunch Seminar: “Maximizing the revenue from your Intellectual Property” at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Censere Group will present an overview on taxation and management of brands, patents and licenses as well as innovative and coordinated views from experts from the fields of valuation, taxation and transfer pricing. Fee: HK$250 for ICC and IYP Members; HK$300 for non-Members - Casual lunch and drink will be provided ** 17-18 May, Italian Wine Workshop in Cantonese at the Hong Kong Wine Academy Throughout this 2 day workshop, a wine educator will introduce the audience to the history and tradition of the most famous Italian wines. A wine tasting will follow. Fee: $800 - Discounted price of $700 available for past students of Hong Kong Wine Academy or members of the Italian Chamber of Commerce. ** 28 May - Italian-Japanese Networking Night at the Japanese Club The Italian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong & Macao, in collaboration with the Pisa Chamber of Commerce in Tuscany, is pleased to present a selection of Tuscan wines during this event organized together with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. For further information and registration please contact the Chamber at 2521 8837 or write an e-mail to [email protected].
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Commercial News
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Background: Italian Parliament, Rome
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Newsletter - Number 4 - May 2012
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Father Giuseppe Burghignoli, an Italian Missionary who spent his entire life in Hong Kong. On 24 April an event to celebrate the life and work of Father Joseph Burghignoli was held at the Canossian Convent in Hong Kong on the initiative of the grandnephew, Massimo Burghignoli. Father Burghignoli was one among the first missionaries to arrive in Hong Kong in 1860 and spent his whole life serving the Catholic community of Hong Kong. He became Bishop Raimondi's Vicar and died in Hong Kong at the age of 59 on 2 January 1892 with a reputation for holiness. The guests of honour at the celebration were: Rev. Michael Yeung, Vicar General of HK Catholic Diocese; Rev. Louis Ha, historian of the Catholic Diocese of HK; Rev. Angelo Lazzarotto, P.I.M.E. Historian; Ms. Alessandra Schiavo, Consul General of Italy in HK. During her speech, Ms. Schiavo stressed that “Thanks to the commitment and almost heroic sacrifices of priests like Giuseppe Burghignoli, the Catholic community of Hong Kong - which represents only a small part of the population (only 5%) - is nowadays one of the most vibrant and dynamic in Asia".
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Consular News
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Consular News