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./

With music by Ndoc Pistulli, a libretto by Zef Zorba and orchestration by Gridi Kraja, the opera brings myth to life, blending history and legend into a powerful musical experience.

The Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the Opera and Ballet House accompanied the performance.

The opera “Rozafa” has a special history of creation. Shkodra composer Ndoc Pistulli—a rare talent with perfect pitch—began playing piano for Albania’s first opera, Mrika, at just 16. By age 25, he started composing his own opera, Rozafa, which finally reached the stage after decades, marking a major milestone for Albanian lyrical art.

The world premiere of the “Rozafa” marks a long-awaited return for a work of art kept from the stage for years, serving as a powerful tribute to Albania’s musical and cultural heritage.

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The performance comes within the framework of the 36th International Festival of Choral Singing “Sergio Chiarlo”, an activity that takes place on June 5-7, 2026.

Following the overwhelming acclaim for the Carmen ballet in Bologna on May 23 and 24, where Anbeta Toromani, Adela Muçollari, Alessandro Macario, Dion Gjinika and Luca Curreli performed, it is now the turn of the Opera House choir to represent Albania in an international competition.

In this prestigious festival, where choirs from different countries of the world participate, our choir will perform a completely Albanian repertoire, bringing to the Italian stage the sound, tradition and spirit of Albanian music.

The festival will culminate with a joint performance of moments from the opera “Nabucco”, where all participating choirs will join their voices in a special musical evening. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

The three tenors, Ignacio Encinas, Oscar Encinas and Albert Deprius, performed under the baton of maestro Leonardo Quadrini. The Spanish tenors performed a classical and operatic program.

While Spanish rhythms filled the air, three Albanian artists added their own flair to the performance: soprano Ramona Tullumani, tenor Denis Skura and pianist Ekland Hasa.

Supported by the Armed Forces Symphony Orchestra, this Edmond Tullumani- curated and produced concert is a major highlight of the season. /j.p/p.s./

Audiences were riveted by Cavalleria Rusticana, a intense, fast-paced portrait of Sicilian passion and jealousy ending in tragedy.

Meanwhile, Giacomo Puccini’s comic opera “Gianni Schicchi” brought art lovers a clever play of irony and satire.

Under the direction of conductor Sergio Alapont and with the participation of the Opera and Ballet House Orchestra and Choir, the two pieces created a special artistic journey, where tragedy and comedy were harmoniously intertwined.

The two operas will also be performed on April 6 and 7, offering the public the opportunity to experience a double night of emotions where tears and laughter meet on the same stage. /k.s/p.s./

The audience showed great interest in this new production, which was also reflected in the record-breaking ticket sales for all the evenings of the performances.

The composer worked hard not only on the music, but also on the words, collaborating closely with the librettist Salvadore Cammarano.

Last evening, the main roles were performed by Eva Golemi, Josif Gjipali, Ankhbayar Enkhbold, Enkeleida Shkoza, Matias Xheli, Suada Gjergji, etc., under the direction of Andrea Solinas.

The opera “Il Trovatore” will be performed for two more evenings (December 12 and 13). /a.f/r.e/p.s./

The festival opened tonight with the “Opera Friendship” gala, featuring leading Croatian and Albanian performers in what organisers describe as a celebration of musical collaboration.

The programme features screening of A Blue Flower, directed by Zrinko Ogresta, which will be shown on Sunday at the Agimi Arts Centre. The film explores themes of memory, family and personal reflection.

On 19 November, Tirana’s main boulevard will host a parade by Zagreb’s Cravat Regiment as part of Croatia’s national “Day of the Cravat”, accompanied by a dedicated exhibition highlighting the cravat as a symbol of Croatian heritage.

The week will also feature a lecture by philosopher and academic Pavo Barišić, titled “Building a Europe of Peace: Croatia’s Role”, examining the country’s contribution to European peace and cooperation.

All events are open to the public free of charge.

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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 “Opera Gala” show will bring together the symphonic orchestra, choir, ballet troupe, and soloists in a grand performance under the baton of conductor Sergio Alapont and with choreography and direction by maestro Renato Zanella.

The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet announced Thursday that the audience will experience some of the most beloved arias of classical music, enjoying pieces by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and Strauss.

“The show is a way to celebrate music with all the artists. Performance features several musical pieces by various composers, each expressing love. Music, voice, and dance are living arts that must remain in the theater,” Renato Zanella said in remarks at a press conference to introduce the show.

“I’m pleased to be here for this important event. I would like to emphasize one word—joy—it is the thread that connects the artists to the audience, and it is this concept that should be felt by the people who have filled the hall to experience the music,” conductor Sergio Alapont said.

For the artists, it is beautiful that this show takes place in the spring, a season associated with rebirth, as they explain what these evenings will bring.

The Opera Gala will last two hours and bring 150 artists of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet to the stage.

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“The Great Master”, composer David Tukiçi, based on the libretto of another major figure of Albanian art, such as Fadil Kraja, managed to bring together a large troupe of artists that included students and teachers of singing, well-known names in the artistic life in the country.

The “Rozafa” is a legendary opera in 3 acts and six scenes.

The role of Rozafa was performed by Ardita Meni, Ujkani was interpreted by Josif Gjipali, Ajkuna by Marjana Leka, accompanied by the choir of students of the University of Arts, directed by the choir master Bujar Alliu.

The music composed by David Tukiçi was played by the Albanian Radio-Television String Orchestra, conducted by Olsi Qinami. /a.f/p.s./