David Morante - former Consul General of Italy
What was your first job?
My diplomatic post has been my first job - as they say, the first and the last.
What would you say attracts people to London, or the UK in general?
What has happened this year happens to be a most cruel reality. That is, the UK has significant standing in the financial world, as well as the country’s multi-racial culture, and thirdly, its linguistic importance.
How many Italians live in London?
There are two types of statistics: official ones that rely on people’s registration to the AIREE which are approximate as registration is not compulsory. Generally, we take these figures and multiply them by a factor of 2. Since the official figures point to a 200,000 presence we would conclude that there may be 400,000 Italians living in the UK.
Schopenhauer once said, "Distance shrinks objects at the horizon, the mind enlarges them..." What is your relationship with Italy?
Schopenhauer wrote at a time when television and low-cost airlines did not exist - nostalgia for a place is not what it used to be. I would say that Italians that were born in the UK or moved here as young children may have developed a double identity, something that causes a deep inner conflict, that weighs more to a sense of belonging than a professional position.
I agree with Schopenhauer’s second point, that distance makes the heart grow fonder - it magnifies everything, good and/or bad. Anyone living away from their Homeland, have left something behind they intend to visit, at least on their holidays.
How does a Consul General spend his day?
The most attractive feature of my job is the uniqueness each day or even every year brings - I consider this to be a privilege. Events range from gala and cultural events to more administrative duties that attract great responsibilities.
What has been the most important achievement of your career? The most Challenging?
Apart from my London appointment which represents the greatest achievement of my career, I would like to mention two special moments in particular: a dawn in December 1997, when after intense negotiations we signed the Kyoto agreement; and the year 1996 when Italy presided over the European Union when I was in charge of culture and research. Challenging times? I would say I have had thousands. It’s impossible to have a good job without encountering difficulties, obviously everything has a price.
How did the Italian Jazz Festival begin?
It began with Italian Nights, an association I personally Christened, which is evocative of another association I set up in Paris called Soirées Italiennes. The Jazz Festival is an activity introduced in 2008 when the association had already been active for 2 years hence I cannot take credit for having organised it, but I continue to support the association and chair some meetings.
What is your next dream?
I don’t have career dreams or dreams of success; however, I do have a dream for Italy - one of economic success similar to that experienced after WW2, from 1945 al 1965, during which time I was lucky enough to be born. I had therefore the privilege of witnessing a period of unimaginable growth and extraordinary democracy, despite tension arising from the cold war and the fact that the Italian communist party had received over 25% of the votes. Italy was Europe’s top country for its civil nuclear facilities, motorways and space programmes. My dream is that Italy could return to those times when the country won 3 or 4 prizes for being the world’s best economic and monetary-stable country. This is my dream.
What is your relationship with the cinema?
Ever since I was an adolescent I loved cinema. In fact, my family has always had an intense relationship with both cinema and theatre - my sister is an actress. I would have liked to become a film director, but I focused on writing for stage and television instead. I am also an art critic.
Which book will you read next?
Do you mean, which book will I finish reading or will I start reading? (He smiles). I am renowned for not ending books because of time constraints. I do enjoy reading on a plane/train, which, incidentally, is the only free time I may have. Unfortunately, my plane journeys these days are short so I can never finish a book. Being a writer myself, I am particularly selective with what I read, I prefer classics to modern books - I seek reading books that are pure and inspirational. My favourite book is Melville’s masterpiece Moby Dick. I would also mention Proust and Dostoevskij; more specifically I like literature from the 1800’s and the turn of 1900.
What advice do you have for any young person aspiring to an international career - maybe like yours?
Whilst under employment with the Diplomatic Service I competed with just Italian applicants. To gain employment in this country, a job seeker would not only have to compete with English people, but also people from all over the world.
For a career in the diplomatic service follow the the link below:
