Featuring timeless masterpieces from the global opera repertoire, this performance marked the grand opening of a promising new season of music and art.

The “Opera Gala” was created to celebrate the new season, showcasing powerful vocal and musical performances by artists from the National Theatre of Opera, Ballet and Folk Ensemble.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja stated that, “Opening the gala evening with prominent soloists from both the Albanian and international stages promises a season filled with art, emotion and unforgettable moments.”

The season opening was unforgettable, with beautiful music and moving performances that captivated the audience.

Led by conductor Simone Di Felice, the artists gave a rich vocal and theatrical performance. Highlights included mezzo-soprano Vikena Kamenica singing Dalila’s aria from Samson and Delilah, and soprano Eva Golemi performing alongside Stefan Po in La Forza del Destino.

Baritone Armando Likaj made a stunning return after 12 years with Figaro’s aria from The Marriage of Figaro. The audience also loved the iconic quartet from Rigoletto.

The new artistic season at the Opera and Ballet House is set to feature a diverse program—including opera, ballet, concerts and other events—aimed at enriching the country’s cultural and artistic life.

Through this season, the Opera and Ballet House and Folk Ensemble aims to continue its mission of promoting the performing arts, preserving the classical repertoire and presenting artistic works to the Albanian public. /p.s./

The performances are scheduled for May 23 and 24 and mark an important moment in the international promotion of Albanian art and culture.

At one of Italy’s best-known theatres, Albanian performers will bring to the stage the energy, elegance and professionalism that have characterised the production since its premiere in Tirana.

The production of “Carmen” received an enthusiastic response during its run at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet, with audiences filling the venue for four consecutive nights and rewarding the cast with prolonged applause.

The ballet featured performances by Anbeta Toromani, Adela Muçollari, Alessandro Macario, Dion Gjinika and Luca Curreli, whose interpretations brought to life a stage production marked by passion, drama and artistic intensity.

Through its retelling of the timeless story of love and freedom, “Carmen” reaffirmed the enduring power of ballet and emerged as one of the standout productions of TKOBAP’s current artistic season.

The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet also said that the first two weeks of May concluded with seven sold-out performances, attended by more than 5,400 art lovers at the theatre.

1 of 4

/j.p/u.sh/

The audience in the hall had the opportunity of having a taste of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”, a two-act classical ballet set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree in a child’s imagination featuring a Nutcracker doll.

Yesterday’s performance was put on the calendar a few days ago, given the numerous requests for “The Nutcracker”. And again the tickets were sold out in record time.

For the Opera and Ballet House, this “The Nutcracker” was a ballet masterpiece put on stage again in a suitable way for families and children.

The soloists and the ballet troupe, the Choir and the Symphony Orchestra offered a great performance. The choreography and concept were by Edi Blloshmi and the costume design by Edlira Qyshka. /a.f/p.s./

“La Sylphide” was staged by the dancers of the National Opera and Ballet House, with choreography by August Bournonville, music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold played by the Opera and Ballet Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gridi Kraja.

The story of “La Sylphide” will be performed also tonight and tomorrow (November 4 and 5).

“La Sylphide” is one of the most magical ballets of the Romantic era.

/j.p/p.s./

Opera and Ballet House will bring to the public a variety of activities, ranging from opera to the liveliness of the ensemble, from polyphonic sounds to international collaborations, from the unforgettable gala with Ermonela Jaho to the long-awaited “La Traviata” by Verdi.

September calendar, published online by this institution, promises a journey of art in all its dimensions.

The activities begin on September 8 with a concert as part of the Cultural Week of Montenegro. From the concert hall of the Opera and Ballet House, the artists will move to Bylis, where the Folk Ensemble will perform together with Bylis Polifonia, on September 12.

On the 16th, the festival will take place in Peza, with the concert entitled “Peza in fest”. The following day, the well-known soprano Ermonela Jaho will perform at the Opera House, at the “When Feelings Speak” gala evening.

Opera and Ballet House will also be included in the calendar of activities within the framework of the Saudi Arabia Cultural Week and the Chinese Cultural Week. Meanwhile, the activities culminate at the end of September (September 26, 27, 28 and 29) with Verdi’s “La Traviata”. /r.e//a.f/p.s./

The ballets are creations of two prominent names on the international stage, Angelin Preljocaj and Erion Kruja.

These two artistic works of art are a deep exploration of the human experience, where ballet becomes the universal language that expresses feelings, contrasts and the complexity of life.

Angelin Preljocaj is one of the most famous contemporary choreographers of Albanian origin.

His work “La Stravaganza” combines elements of tradition with those of modernity, which has a flood of the past into the future, as if time were an endless circle, an eternity.

With powerful and expressive choreography, this ballet addresses the theme of the clash between 17th-century and modern cultures, exploring concepts of emigration and the interaction between the past and the present.

The ballet music is by Antonio Vivaldi, as well as electronic compositions by contemporary artists such as Evelyn Ficarra, Robert Normandeau and Åke Parmerud.

Preljocaj created “La Stravaganza” for the New York City Ballet as part of the “Diamond Project III”, with its premiere on May 22, 1997. Since then, the ballet has been performed by various companies around the world.

Meanwhile, choreographer Erion Kruja, another Albanian artist with a successful international career, brought “Intricate Threads of Humanity” to the Opera and Ballet House stage as an absolute premiere. The work delves into the depths of human behavior and emotions.

With a bold approach to choreography and a special sensitivity to music and scenography, Kruja offers an unforgettable experience for the audience. /e.r/ /a.g/p.s./

“La Stravaganza” is a ballet created in 1997 by the renowned choreographer of Albanian origin Angelin Preljocaj. This ballet deals with the theme of the clash between 17th-century and modern cultures, exploring the concepts of emigration and the interaction between the past and the present.

The music includes works by Antonio Vivaldi, who wrote a set of concertos with the same title, “La Stravaganza,” in the 18th century, as well as electronic compositions by contemporary artists such as Evelyn Ficarra, Robert Normandeau and Åke Parmerud.

Preljocaj created “La Stravaganza” for the New York City Ballet as part of the “Diamond Project III,” with its premiere on May 22, 1997. Since then, the ballet has been performed by various companies around the world.

The premiere in Albania was held in May 2014 and was repeated several times in subsequent years.

Now the ballet will be played again on February 24-25-27, at 7:00 PM./p.s./

The classical ballet “Sleeping Beauty” was performed on the stage of the “Aleksandër Moisiu” Theater. The performance of the Bulgarian dancers electrified the hall through their elegant movements. The show was a gift to the seaside town and a way to promote the beautiful art of ballet and classical music.

This show was not only an artistic interpretation, but a return to the magic of childhood, where everyone can believe in the power of love and beautiful dreams.

Earlier, the same show was staged at the Opera and Ballet House in Tirana. The triumph of love over evil attracted the attention of loyal opera audiences, while the tickets were sold out in record time.

Opera and Ballet House’s collaboration with the Varna Theater started in 2023 and has resulted in successful exchanges of artists and productions. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Blendi Gonxhja shared in the social media moments from this gala night.

United Dance Albania brought a youthful spirit of passion for culture, the development of creative and artistic skills, the comparison opportunity with foreign dancers, through a one-week workshop with foreign and Albanian trainers with a debut at a gala night in the Opera and Ballet House.

This initiative launched under the artistic direction of Ilir Shaqiri with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation brought together 158 ballet talents from Italy, Malta, Albania and Kosovo and from the Diaspora in the capital, under the motto “Once you visit Albania, you wish to return”. /k.s/p.s./

The “Preljocaj” ballet troupe performed modern dance, accompanied by a variety of music, such as Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, Daft Punk, etc., with the theme of the gravity of the human body presented in an interesting way. This spectacle also marked the grand opening of the “Dance Festival”.

“Gravity” will also be shown in the evening at the Opera and Ballet House.

The festival, under the artistic direction of Angelin Preljocaj, aims to position Tirana as a prominent center for gathering international contemporary dance. This year’s festival includes a series of dynamic workshops, public engagements and a parallel program of art events, which will offer young artists a unique opportunity to learn from renowned professionals./p.s./