With the hope that the “next six months will be guided by that which unites and not divides” Russia and the European Union, Uto Ughi conducted a concert yesterday evening at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre for the opening of the Italian EU Presidency, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini attending.
The power to unite
Arriving for the second part of the performance directly from a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Mogherini greeted the audience with the explanation that the choice of the event was “not a chance one”. “Music is one of the best ways that Italy has of presenting itself”, she said, “and music has the power to unite”. Also present were Italian ambassador to Moscow Cesare Maria Ragaglini, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksei Meshkov, head of the EU delegation in Moscow Vygaudas Usackas, director of the Italian Cultural Institute Adriano Dell’Asta, in addition to foreign diplomats and representatives of Russian and Italian business spheres.
