MUSCAT: The “Ordine della Stella d’Italia” (Order of the Star of Italy), Knighthood with the rank of Knight (Cavaliere), was conferred on His Highness Sayyid Dr Kamil bin Fahd al Said Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers on Sunday. His Excellency Pierluigi D’Elia, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to the Sultanate of Oman, officiated at the ceremony.
The Patron of the Order of the prestigious Star of Italy is the President of the Republic of Italy. The order is bestowed on expatriates and foreigners who achieve extraordinary results in the preservation and promotion of Italy's national prestige and in augmenting bilateral relations between Italy and other countries. This great honour was accorded to His Highness Sayyid Dr Kamil in recognition of his significant contributions in strengthening cultural relations between Republic of Italy and the Sultanate of Oman through his dedicated work with the Royal Opera House Muscat since 2006.
In a speech during the ceremony, His Highness Sayyid Dr Kamil remarked that the conferral of the Order of the Star of Italy “is more than a reflection of personal achievement as it also signifies the inestimable value of friendship in the international domain and of the fruitful collaboration between Italy and Oman.”
He noted that His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik continues to advance the noble ideals envisioned by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for the Royal Opera House Muscat, which “has become the flagship of these ideals with its commitment to excellence in programming and in fostering ties of friendship and understanding.”
Since the Grand Inauguration of the Royal Opera House Muscat in 2011 with Puccini’s Turandot performed by Arena di Verona, an important feature of the partnership between Italy and Oman is the staging in the Royal Opera House Muscat of a series of acclaimed productions from some of Italy's most prestigious opera houses. These productions include among many others, The Barber of Seville performed by Teatro San Carlo, L’Elisir d’Amore with Teatro La Fenice and Le Nozze di Figaro with Accademia Teatro alla Scala. The collaboration between the two countries was taken a step further with joint work in the creation of three original co-productions: Bizet’s Lakmé, and Verdi’s La Traviata and Rigoletto.
These cooperative ventures in artistic creation have enriched the cultural landscape of Oman while strengthening the friendly bilateral ties between the two countries.
Looking to the future, His Highness eloquently stated, “Let us continue to deepen the bonds between our two countries, drawing from the rich tapestry of our shared experiences and the universal language of music. Together, we can build a legacy of understanding and cultural enrichment that transcends borders and resonates across the echoes of time.”
His Excellency the Ambassador praised the role of His Highness the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. “His Highness Sayyid Dr Kamil has played a vital role in strengthening the cultural relations between Italy and Oman through the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM), specifically in promoting performances, exhibitions and initiatives related to the tradition of Italian Opera and music in the Sultanate of Oman and supporting Omani cultural initiatives such as the participation at the Venice Art Biennale,” he said.
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