Every such occasion allows us to share, to explain and to convince of the necessity to reconstruct and to restore to Venice the Teatro San Cassiano of 1637 as the world’s first public opera house. Together we are creating an historic opportunity for opera and for Venice.

Many thanks to our host, HM Ambassador to Italy Stephen Hickey CMG, welcoming guests from politics, institutions, diplomacy, business and culture to celebrate the strength of UK–Italy relations.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the first UK–Italy GREAT Award to Dame Helen Mirren, recognised for her deep and longstanding connection to Italy, with the award presented by Luca Medici, known as Checco Zalone, in celebration of cultural ties between the two countries, which Mirren shares with her husband, Taylor Hackford.

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