interview
TALE OF TWO PRINCES LIZ O’REILLY BTM speaks to the man responsible for the stunning costumes at this year’s Grand Italian Charity Ball.
P
rince Maurizio Agosti Montenaro Durazzo was the main man at this year’s Italian ball, not only organising the entertainment and costumes but playing the main part in the theme. He explains how research for the event led to a stunning exhibition taking place at Bahrain National Museum. “I was involved with Bahrain’s Italian ball last year when they had a Venetian carnival theme (he is Master of Ceremonies at the Venice Carnival and also director of the International Association for Carnival of Venice) and was delighted when they invited me to come back this year.” This year’s theme was based on the 1960s’ Italian film Il Gattopardo, or The Leopard, which is set in 1860 as Garibaldi’s troops set about the reunification of Italy. It is a romance set in Sicily
Prince Maurizio Agosti Montenaro Durazzo
with aristocrat Prince Salina as the main character played by Prince Maurizio at the ball. He says: “When I heard the theme would be Il Gattopardo I immediately went to Palermo to start research and there I met an amazing collector, Raffaello Piraino, who has more than 3,000 costumery items dating from the 17th century through to the 1950s, including a great selection from the 1860s, the setting for the film. “He agreed that we could display some of them in Bahrain and we planned to exhibit 10
pieces around the lobby of the hotel prior to the ball. But when Culture Minister Shaikha Mai saw the pictures, she felt it was an important enough collection to be featured in Bahrain National Museum and we expanded it from just 10 pieces to 24, including accessories. “The ball included the perfumes, costumers, music and culture of Sicily and this exhibition truly brings a piece of Sicilian culture to Bahrain.” The exhibition will run daily until July 21.
bystander
bystander
Michele, Romina, Prince Maurizio & HE Alberto Vecchi
Carol & Gordon
Fanny & Christina
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Fareed & Roaya
Alessio & Tanya
Khalid, Alex, HE Dr Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador, Ruth & Michael
Brett, Nina, Vlada, Hilton, Irina & Alex
Ciska & Antonella
Kareena & Zubi
Brice, Jhon & Alex
Noora & Travis
Claudia & Dave
Christina
Andrew & Azi
May 2015 43