Gianni Letta

Gianni Letta was born in Avezzano near L’Aquila, Italy, on April 15, 1935, and now lives in Rome, Italy. After obtaining a University Degree in Law, he worked as a lawyer in his father’s Law firm for a few years. Later, he became a journalist, attaining an old passion of his, when - still being a high school student - he was a reporter for national newspapers, RAI and ANSA, an activity that he continued also during his university years. In 1958 he moved to Rome to work as a member of the editorial staff of Il Tempo daily paper, where he later developed experiences in all sections, with particular regard to the World News. Not long afterwards, he became the Head of the newspaper’s Provincial Editors, and then the Editor-in-Chief. In 1971, the newspaper’s founder Renato Angiolillo wanted Letta to become a member of the Administrative Board. Subsequently, he became a member of Il Tempo Board of Directors, and the Managing Director of S.E.R. (Società Editoriale Romana) and TI.CO. (Tipografica Colonna), i.e. the two companies publishing and printing the newspaper. On August 16, 1973, when Angiolillo died, Letta became the Director of the daily paper, a position that he had for almost 15 years, until the end of 1987, when he left Il Tempo to accept managing responsibilities in the Fininvest Group. He was the Deputy President of Fininvest Comunicazioni, and the Director of the Fininvest office in Rome, thus representing Berlusconi’s Group in Italy’s capital city. As the Editor-in-Chief of Fininvest Comunicazioni, he coordinated the Groups’ activities for all matters regarding communication and information. He directed TV sections, especially on Canale 5, the channel where he hosted Italia Domanda, a weekly show featuring political and cultural discussions on domestic and international events. For many years, he was the Director of the News Bureau of the National Federation of the Knights of Labour, and the Director of the Research Department of Ente Palazzo della Civiltà del Lavoro, for which he edited several books on economic and social issues. During Berlusconi’s governments, Gianni Letta has always been the Under-Secretary of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Awards:
2002: He was proclaimed a Knight Grand Cross of the Republic of Italy.
2009: The title of legion d'Honner was bestowed upon him .
- Pope Benedict XVI appointed him a Gentleman of his Holiness.

Reasons for assigning the Award

The prize has been awarded to Mr. Gianni Letta, Under-Secretary of State of Italy’s Prime Minister’s Office, as an international acknowledgement for having developed, improved and consolidated the relationships between Italy and World’s culture, with particular regard to opera and classical music.
Mr. Letta has always demonstrated great attention and sensitivity towards young artists, by promoting events, contests and courses open to young talents.
He is a vivid example of great professionalism, and everybody recognizes that he perfectly represents immaculate fairness and a correct political style.