a t t i t u d e congratulates: Alessandra Ferri appointed Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters on behalf of the French Ministry of Culture.
On February 19, Alessandra Ferri, director of the Vienna State Ballet, celebrated artist, and prima ballerina assoluta, was appointed Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters on behalf of the French Ministry of Culture. The honor was bestowed by Matthieu Peyraud, French Ambassador to Austria, at the French Embassy on Schwarzenbergplatz. The Order of Arts and Letters is the most important cultural award in France and honors "individuals who have distinguished themselves through their work in the artistic, cultural, or literary fields or through their contribution to the influence of the arts and literature in France and around the world." This award recognizes not only Alessandra Ferri's extraordinary career, but also her commitment to the art of dance and its promotion.
Miss Ferri and Matthieu Peyraud, French Ambassador to Austria.
In his speech, Ambassador Peyraud emphasized that Alessandra Ferris's "lasting connection to France" was "very valuable" for the country and its culture. With her appointment, the French Republic was honoring "an artist who has brought works from the French repertoire to the international stage and whose work has had a profound impact on the history of dance at an international level."
Alessandra Ferri accepted the honor with deep gratitude and emphasized in her speech how her personal connection to France, its art and artists, as well as her encounters with French audiences, have shaped her private and professional life: "France has been an essential part of my journey. My long and profound artistic relationship with Roland Petit and the Ballet de Marseille marked me deeply. Through his works I discovered a theatrical intensity and dramatic truth that expanded my understanding of what ballet could express. With Pierre Lacotte and the Ballet de Nancy, I experienced another facet of the French tradition, its devotion to history, style, and the living preservation of classical heritage. Dancing at the Opéra de Paris allowed me to experience the extraordinary dialogue that exists between artists and the French public, a dialogue of intelligence, sensitivity, and high expectation. These experiences shaped me as an artist." Ferri also emphasized that "art knows no borders, because it circulates, it transforms, it connects."
The ceremony ended with the famous "Méditation from Thaïs" by French composer Jules Massenet, beautifully performed by Victoria Trusewicz and Shino Takizawa on violin and piano.
