Premio Galileo on European values

Florence, 11 February 2011 – The Premio Galileo – Una vita per la musica (Galileo Prize - A life for Music), this year will be devoted to European values. On the occasion of the first edition of the Festival d’Europa, the prestigious award will devote its 14th edition to the subject of the founding values of Europe and to the recognition of those people who have been active in contributing to its birth or in the daily development of a united Europe and of its ideals of Peace and Culture, as grounding elements of the Premio Galileo.
The decision of focusing the Premio Galileo on European values stems from the strong relation established between the Scientific Committee of the Premio and the European University Institute, grounding on common objectives and values.
The award ceremony will take place at the Teatro della Pergola of Florence on the 9th of May, with the participation of high profile participants from all over the world. The event will also include a video and stage performances with actors, dancers and musicians. It will represent the final stage of the event called “Il teatro italiano nel mondo” (“The Italian theatre in the world”), directed by Maurizio Scaparro, for the celebrations of the 150 years of Italian Unity.
The 2011 edition of the Premio Galileo – Una vita per la musica, has been especially conceived, as a European edition, including the following sections: Politics, Human Rights, Economy, Science and Technology.
The Scientific Committee of the Premio includes: Alfonso De Virgiliis, president of the Fondazione Galileo 2000; Josep Borrell, president of the European University Institute; Jack Lang, French Minister of culture under the Mitterand administration; the Greek actress Irene Papas, awarded in 2009 with the Leone d’Oro (Golden Lion) on her career; the Princess Irina Strozzi Guicciardini; and Marco Giorgetti, director of the Teatro La Pergola in Florence.
Initially created as a musical award, over time the Premio Galilei broadened up to issues such as Peace, conceived as the highest asset, closely related with culture and art, with freedom of thought and freedom of spirit, betting on Florence as City for Peace. Among the winners of the Premio Galileo: His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Shimon Peres, Lech Walesa, Jack Lang, Bernard - Henri Lévy and Zubin Mehta.