Laurea Honoris Causa to Umberto Orsini on the Day of the Performing Arts
Umberto Orsini received Laurea Magistrale Honoris Causa in Television, Cinema and New Media at IULM University
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IULM University will confered the Laurea Magistrale Honoris Causa in Television, Cinema and New Media to Umberto Orsini, one of the absolute protagonists of the Italian theater and film scene.
The ceremony was held on Friday, October 17, at 11 a.m., at the IULM Auditorium on the occasion of the Day of Performing Arts, in the presence of Rector Valentina Garavaglia and AGIS President Francesco Giambrone. The laudatio was held by Claudio Longhi, Director of Piccolo Teatro di Milano.
The Rector stated:
"It was an honor for me to award the degree to Orsini during my own
tenure as Rector — I, who am a historian of Theatre — and precisely on the Day
of Performing Arts. It is an act of love toward this art form, an indispensable
means of human communication, celebrated in the name of a great international
master."
"Today marks the first of the days dedicated to the performing arts that will accompany the celebrations for the eightieth anniversary of AGIS. We wanted to begin with IULM University, on an occasion made even more meaningful by the awarding of the Honorary Degree to an undisputed protagonist of Italian culture and performing arts, Umberto Orsini, because we are convinced that education and performance are two inseparable and complementary dimensions," said AGIS President Giambrone.
In his laudatio, Claudio Longhi described the great actor with these words:
"A warm and enveloping voice, blended with fog and metal, capable of
mysterious shadings and woven with arcane nostalgia; sharp and penetrating
eyes, a sober and nervous elegance, somewhere between British and Piedmontese;
a restrained yet cutting beauty, always ready, however, to dissolve into a warm
and open smile that carries the colors and lights of Rome. With his meticulous
and passionate work for over half a century, Umberto Orsini has carefully
examined Italian acting (in a genuinely transmedial sense), seeking to distill
its rules while never ceasing to invent its exceptions."
For his part, Umberto Orsini, visibly moved, said in thanking IULM for the honor:
"On stage I am increasingly myself — I go beyond the characters. I feel
the need to recall years of evenings and encounters by putting my own face into
it, a face that already has a story to tell. Today, however, this title moves
me as much as a debut, because it recognizes my entire journey."
His art has been shaped by encounters with great masters such as Luchino Visconti, Federico Fellini, Franco Zeffirelli, Gabriele Lavia, Luca Ronconi and Massimo Castri, up to the directors of the new generations, including Pietro Babina.
This event is part of the Badge of Honour initiative for all students in the Bachelor's and Master's degree programs. Participation in this event corresponds to the completion of 1 of 4 activities (for students enrolled in the Master's Degree Courses) and 1 of 6 activities (for students enrolled in the Bachelor's Degree Courses) required to earn the Badge of Honour point.