Su FIRST Art, the FIRSTonline magazine dedicated to the world of art and culture, speaks Fortunato Ortombina, Superintendent of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, according to some, a possible candidate to replace the Austrian Pereira at the helm of La Scala in Milan. Ortombina, who gives a 360-degree interview on the rebirth of the Venetian opera house, also intervenes on the story that concerns the Milanese institution and the possible (although increasingly less probable) entry of the Saudi Arabian government into the capital, with a investment of over 15 million euros: "The sovereignty of Italian music would not be affected, we must not be afraid of anyone, not even the Arabs".
"By increasing the offer and optimizing the workforce, we have doubled the audience, attracting tourists and young people", said the Superintendent, who had already been artistic director of the Fenice since 2007 and who boasts a past at La Scala in Milan and also at the Teatro San Carlo of Naples. "AND it is not true that with culture you don't eat. On the contrary, culture, in addition to having an inestimable value for society, if produced effectively costs nothing to the State and also generates wealth". In fact, for La Fenice, receipts from the ticket office have almost quadrupled in ten years.
Moving instead to Rome, FIRST Arte signals the beautiful initiative of Hermes, the French fashion house which until March 16th at the Ara Pacis Museum in Rome showcases its craftsmen. Executive Vice President Guillaume de Seynes, present at the inaugural event, said: “We bring our craftsmen and their stories. Our success? A continuous challenge: we are contemporary but faithful to our tradition”. The exhibition is called "Hermès – Behind the scenes“ and after Paris, Milan and Moscow, now it's Rome's turn.
Among other things, it is a golden moment for Hermes: in the ten years between 2008 and 2017 turnover has tripled and the 2018 turnover, announced a few days ago, is now close to 6 billion, up 10% (at constant exchange rates) on the previous year, the best ever. A margin of 34,6% achieved in 2017 places Hermès at the top of the sector and has made it possible to distribute to its shareholders an ordinary dividend of 4,1 euros per share as well as an extraordinary coupon of a further 5 euros.
