A concert given by the Solisti Veneti orchestra at the residence of the Italian ambassador to Vienna Giorgio Marrapodi had a very special guest in the audience: President of the Austrian Republic Heinz Fisher, who attended the performance and made a short speech at its end. After thanking the musicians for the music on their programme and the three encores that followed, Fisher underscored the depth of the relationship between Austria and Italy, and mentioned his recent State visit to Rome, which he described as a great success.
Fisher cites friendship with President Napolitano and praises the Italian EU presidency
In recalling his bond of friendship with the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, and the exchange of views they had on his visit to Rome, the Austrian president also spoke about his very cordial meetings with other State authorities, from the Presidents of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Gentiloni, all of whom he thanked for their warm welcome. Fisher then praised the Italian Presidency of the Council of the EU and, in particular, the new impetus that our country had decided to give to the European decision-making process and the idea of a union of citizens sharing a common destiny.
Finally, the Austrian president offered his compliments on the event and on an atmosphere of friendship that found its best expression “in an homage to Mozart by a great Italian orchestra in the splendid setting of the Metternich Palace”.
