A sweet slice of Italian

We call it the 'Italian Way of Life in Bangkok' because we try to bring events that represent different aspects of our way of life - music, food, paintings, photography, design, film and more

While the French and the Italians have been battling each other on the world football stage, their ongoing annual cultural festivals have been enriching life in Bangkok, complementing the contemporary Thai arts scene. Now, hot  on the heels of the French "La Fete", comes its Italian sister.

"We call it the 'Italian Way of Life in Bangkok' because we try to bring events that represent different aspects of our way of life - music, food, paintings, photography, design, film and more," says Italian Ambassador Ignazio Di Pace. He is a die-hard football fan, as the photos in his office show.

"It is difficult to define the Italian way of life. Italians like things that make life efficient and pleasant at the same time. Take, for example, Ferrari. This may sound a little too ambitious, but it is the message we want to send out with this festival.

"Governments can promote and encourage the relationship between the countries, but the essence lies in people-to-people contact. For this to happen, it is necessary that the people know each other. Thai people know little about Italy, and vice versa, so the most important thing is to increase the knowledge on both sides.

"Even though we organise cultural activities all through the year, we concentrate [on the five weeks of the festival] because it gives more opportunities to [get] the attention of the public - so far, we have received positive responses.

"We've been running the festival for a few years, but this year's is the largest as it is the 140th anniversary of the establishing of diplomatic relations. Every year, we have been encouraged by the success we have had to try and do more."

However, "more" does not necessarily mean an increase in the budget from Rome. "I don't believe in activities that are supported by public funds," says the ambassador. "If there is private sponsorship behind it, that is a clear sign that it is what the market and the people want. I would not like to have something that I think is beautiful come all the way from Italy on taxpayers' money when no one can guarantee the people here will like it."

Thunderous applause after the symphonic concert "Italian Serenade", featuring the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, with soprano Carmen Ferraioli, trumpeter Nello Salza and conductor Antonio Cipriani, showed what the Bangkok audience really liked - a well-balanced programme of classical compositions by the likes of Verdi and Puccini and movie soundtracks by Ennio Morricone, among others.

And Di Pace recommended another show that should be a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

"Forget for a moment that I am an ambassador of Italy, and think of me as a person who likes nice things. 'The Galileo Chini Exhibition' is really extraordinary. I know [painter] Chini, but I've been surprised by how beautiful his works actually are. I especially like the ones he did after returning from Thailand, in which you can see he had absorbed the influence of the Thai culture.

"I prefer to present the kind of work that is a result of cooperation, which is much more meaningful for Thai people. Arts and culture have value to the extent that you share them with others."