TIRANA, Jan. 24 – Starting Jan. 30, the internationally acclaimed opera Carmen will come on stage at the Palace of Congresses with a cast made up of Albanian excellency abroad and some of the most famous names of Albanian opera music.
With Ricardo Casero as conductor, Gà«zim Myshketa as director, Vikena Kamenica and Giancarlo Monsalve in the lead, famed ballet-dancers Anbeta Toromani and Alessandro Macario on stage, Gheorghe Iancu choreographing and a special appearance by Albanian icon Tinka Kurti, this cultural event taking place until Feb. 3 is not to be missed.
Mysketa has been valued from lyrical music experts as one of the most interesting affirmed talents of his generation. He got his Masters degree in Milan’s La Scala Academy and has won a number of local and international awards.
Though he has starred as a lyrical singer in many international opera productions, this is his first time directing an opera as famed as Carmen.
Casero, on the other hand, is making a comeback as a conductor for Carmen. Head of Kingdom of Aragon Orchestra, in Spain, Casero has collaborated with acclaimed soloists such as Maxim Vengerov, Sarah Chang and Natalia Gutman.
In addition, Casero is the lead conductor of Master Symphony Orchestra since 2007.
“An expressive hand and perfect control over speed and volume were the distinct features in Casero’s rendition of the New World Symphony,” the Levante-EMV newspaper wrote back in 2012.
A special inclusion in Carmen’s cast will be choreographer Iancu.
Iancu was born in Romania’s capital, Bucharest, where he graduated the National Art Academy after nine years of studying. He perfected his calling during his work with master Semyonov at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre and other equally important names.
In 1990, Iancu established his own ballet company, named Fabula Saltica, with which he has put original and other productions on stage.
Though also a masterful dancer, Iancu is being increasingly recognized for his skill in choreography, his use of spaces and different styles.
Iancu’s greatest achievement to date has been staging Swan Lake in Bucharest National Opera Theatre in April, 2008. The National Opera is were Iancu kick-started his career and where he’d been absent for 32 years.
Toromani, Albanian ballerina who mastered her craft in Azerbaijan, will be returning on the Albanian stage after 16 years of absence. Toromani has been living in Italy since 2003, and has received a number of awards, including the Gino Tani Award in 2004 and the Danza & Danza Award in 2005.
The opera will premier at 7 pm on Tuesday, and tickets can be purchased both online and on location.
