As every year, the Prize of the “Marchigiano dell’Anno”, i.e. of the Marchigiano of the Year was held on June 22nd, 2016 in the prestigious location of the Italian Senate, in the heart of Rome in Palazzo Madama.
I was extremely honoured to present the prize to my friend, Sergio Palma, who was thus rewarded by the Italian Presidency due to his admirable work in the field of Oil Trade and Management that he fulfilled all along these years of work within the Italian firm of AGIP.
Together with me was AGIP Vice-President Giuseppe Accorinti to give Sergio Palma his Prize.
Needless to say that his wife, Margareth (of Indonesian descent) and his son David were tremendously proud on this very special occasion.
Our thoughts were directed to our common friend, Princess Giulia Pignatelli Panichi Seghetti who had us meet years ago in her lovely mansion of Castel di Lama, Borgo Seghetti Panichi, together with Marquess Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, present in the Senate on this unique venue.
Il était une fois un Amoureux des Arts qui se passionne pour l’Académie de France à Rome. Des années auparavant, il avait rencontré une jolie jeune fille à la Trinité des Monts, Edwige, qui allait devenir son épouse et lui donner trois beaux garçons. Grâce à elle, il devient viticulteur dans le Médoc au merveilleux domaine de Château Livran, et de l’union de ses passions va naître une collaboration extraordinaire avec la prestigieuse institution qu’héberge la Villa Médicis à Rome.
Olivier Michon et son épouse, Edwige Lurton-Michon
Olivier Michon, va ainsi accompagner pendant de nombreuses années et jusqu’à aujourd’hui encore, expositions, concerts, initiatives et manifestations littéraires, toutes liés à la propagation de la fine fleur de la culture française.
Olivier Michon, entouré de son épouse Edwige Lurton-Michon, de Muriel Mayette-Holtz, Directrice de l’Académie de France à Rome et de Michelina Terreri
C’est Muriel Mayette-Holtz, l’actuelle Directrice de l’Académie de France qui va reconnaître en lui un mécène aussi discret qu’exceptionnel et lundi 27 juin 2016 à 19h30, en présence de son épouse Edwige et de quelques invités très intimes du couple, elle lui remet avec des paroles qui lui viennent du coeur la médaille de Chevalier des Arts et Lettres en témoignage de la gratitude de la France pour le soutien et l’attention de tous les instants qu’Olivier a toujours eus pour les activités de la Villa Médicis.
Olivier Michon, entouré de Madame Michelina Terreri et du Prince Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong
Je suis fier d’être son ami, sa “tête chercheuse”, comme il aime à me présenter, depuis les quelques quinze années d’une amitié jamais démentie.
Un grand merci au Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini pour les jolies photos !
PS: En prime une autre facette d’Olivier Michon: la Cuisine !!!
On Saturday 25th June 2016, Prince Giuseppe Grifeo di Partanna decided to gather some friends in the Castle of his ancestors in Partanna, Sicily. Thanks to Dottore Domenico de Gennaro and the “Il MedioEvo” Association, the funds reunited in occasion of this Gala Dinner will be used to restore two wonderful masterpieces of Sicilian Middle Age.
Prince Giuseppe Grifeo di Partanna greeting his friends: Mrs. Anna Maria Napoli and her husband, Mr. Vincenzo Mendolia, owners of the delicious “Baronessa” Olive Oil and the Della Rocca brothers, Daniele & Massimo, from Martina FrancaIn company of Dr. Domenico de Gennaro and his wife, Dr. Rosalia Crescenti and Onorevole Nino Oddo and his wife
The Grifeo family is one of the most antique and famous names of Sicily. Their ancestor, Giovanni Grifeo the First was rewarded the territory of Partanna in 1091 by Earl Ruggero of Sicily in gratitude for his help to fight against the Arabic invaders and since then, the Grifeo family became “Grifeo di Partanna”.
Prince Giuseppe Grifeo di Partanna showing me his impressive GenealogyCastello Grifeo in Partanna
Their impressive castle was the marvellous settings where many VIPs decided to get together to enjoy the most delightful evening of the beginning of the summer with typical Sicilian dishes and above all, a piano concert by two young and brilliant artists, Luca Lione and Giulia Martiniello, students of Maestro Vincenzo Marrone d’Alberti.
Luca Lione & Giulia Martiniello, students of Maestro Vincenzo Marrone d’Alberti
Maestro Luca Lione interpreting with grace and sentiment an unforgettable masterpiece of Franz Liszt
Needless to say that this enchanting evening is still alive in our hearts and we are looking forward to going back to this lovely area of the Beautiful Sicily.
All my gratitude and sincere thanks to our marvellous photographer, Mr. Angelo Campus.
On Friday 10th June 2016, in Phnom Penh, Her Majesty Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk granted me the honour of a Royal Audience in Kantha Bopha Pavillion at 11.00 a.m.
On this occasion, I presented to Her Majesty my respectful wishes for Her 80th Birthday, which will be celebrated on June 18th and presented the Queen-Mother the special gift that Mr. Ferruccio Ferragamo, Chairman of Salvatore Ferragamo, sent to Her Majesty, knowing that his brand has been the favourite of Queen Monineath for numerous decades.
Were also present HRH Princess Samdech Sisowath Pongneary Monipong, my beloved Aunt, HRH Princess Samdech Reach Botrey Preah Anoch Norodom Arunrasmy and Her daughter, HRH Princess Norodom Reasmey Ponita.
On Wednesday 27th April 2016, His Royal Highness Prince Nikola II Petrovic Njegoš of Montenegro paid a visit to the Holy See and on the occasion, had separate meetings with His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.
At the end of his visit to the Vatican, Prince Nikola II awarded high Vatican officials, representatives of the Italian nobility, as well as diplomats accredited to the Holy See, including the Montenegrin Ambassador Veselin Šuković with the “Medal of the Order of Danilo I of Montenegro”.
HRH Prince Nikola II Petrovic Njegos of Montenegro granted me the Order of Prince Danilo I. On the right, my beloved Friend, N.H. Giuseppe Tedeschi, Gentleman of His Holiness.
I was granted the honour to be received in the Order of Prince Danilo I at the highest level: Grand Cross of 1st Class
At the reception given in honour of HRH Prince Nikola of Montenegro at the Academy of Hungary in Rome, I also had the honour to meet with HRH Prince Jaime Bernardo de Bourbon Parme, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Holy See since 2014.
Prince Jaime Bernardo of Bourbon-Parma, Count of Bardi is the second son and third child of HRH Princess Irene of the Netherlands and late HRH Prince Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma. He is a member of the Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma, and also an extended member of the Dutch Royal Family and a Dutch nobleman with the title Prince de Bourbon Parme.
in company of HRH Prince Jaime Bernardo of Bourbon Parme, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Holy See
On Monday 2nd May 2016, His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath King Norodom Sihamoni granted me by Royal Decree the title of Ambassador with rank of Under Secretary of State, directly attached to His Personal Secretariat.
On Thursday 5th May 2016, at the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, in the Silver Pagoda Holy Grounds, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni and Her Majesty Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, followed by members of the Royal Family and dignitaries of the Khmer Royal Court, prayed in occasion of the Buddhist Holy Day of the beginning of the Month of Pisak.
Their Majesties praying in front of King Norodom Sihanouk’s Stupa. HRH Samdech Reach Botrei Preah Ream Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, HRH Samdech Reach Botrei Preah Anoch Princess Norodom Arunrasmey and HRH Samdech Princess Sisowath Pongneary Monipong were following Their Majesties. I was granted the grand honour to follow my Aunt, Princess Sisowath Pongneary Monipong to offer a jasmine garland to honour the memory of our King Father.With my Beloved Auntie HRH Princess Samdech Sisowath Pongneary Monipong before the Royal Ceremony of the Grand Holy Day on 5th May 2016
I was granted the honour to greet Their Majesties and extend my deeply respectful thanks for Their Royal Kindness and bidding my salutations before leaving Cambodia back to Italy.
On Monday 2nd May 2016, before entering the Kantha Bopha Pavillion to be received by Her Majesty Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, I was granted the honour to kneel down in front of the Statue of our Late King-Father in the gardens of the Royal Palace.
Honouring the Memory of King Father Preah Barom Rattanak Kaud Preah Karuna Norodom Sihanouk Varman
On Monday 2nd May 2016, in Phnom Penh, Her Majesty Queen-Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk granted me the honour of a Royal Audience in Kantha Bopha Pavillion at 10.30 a.m.
Kneeling down in front of my Most Revered Queen-MotherHer Majesty the Queen-Mother kindly welcoming meLast photo before leaving Her Majesty
On Sunday 1st May 2016, in Phnom Penh, His Majesty Preah Karuna Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath King Norodom Sihamoni granted me the honour of a Royal Audience in Khemarin Palace at 11.00 a.m.
Kneeling down in front of my Most Revered Sovereign
His Majesty benevolently listeningRoyal Embrace before leaving