The Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau celebrated the National Day with a concert performed by the ‘Women Orchestra’, conducted by Director Alessandra Pipitone, together with Maria Francesca Mazzara, a renowned Italian Soprano, with an audience of more than 700 Italian nationals and friends of Italy from the local community. The Orchestra performed a repertoire mainly dedicated to Maestro Ennio Morricone, but also masterpieces by Puccini, Mascagni and Bacalov. The ‘Women Orchestra’ is an ensemble composed of 30 female musicians, who started a cultural project in 2017, with the first performance at the Lena Theatre in Cammarata (Palermo) on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Since then, the Women Orchestra has performed at various events and also in television programmes that have made the project known to the general public in Italy. The concert in Hong Kong was the Orchestra’s first abroad.
“On the day that marks the celebration of the referendum in which Italian women voted for the first time in the history of Italy, Women Orchestra’s concert not only made it an occasion to enhance the Italian artistic and musical heritage, but also to promote, through culture, important issues such as equal opportunities, mutual respect and equality,” said Consul General Carmelo Ficarra during his speech. Noting that Hong Kong and Macau are home to the second largest Italian community in China and a large number of businesses operating in various sectors, Consul General Ficarra emphasised that bilateral relations between Italy and Hong Kong are solid and continue to develop rapidly, in tune with the many opportunities offered by the local market thanks also to the unique role of Hong Kong and Macau in the Greater Bay Area. The Consul General also recalled the numerous commercial and cultural activities carried out in the current year in collaboration with local authorities and organisations representing Sistema Italia in Hong Kong, as well as the planned important collaborations, particularly in the field of fashion and design. He also made specific mention of numerous Italian, local and international sponsors who supported the event and played a key role in the success of the concert. Speaking on behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was the Honourable Financial Secretary, Mr. Paul Chan, who recalled the growth prospects of the economy, the recovery and the resulting opportunities in the commercial and cultural fields for the entire Italian system.