TIRANA, Nov. 4 – Twenty-four year-old Albanian soprano Enkelejda Kamani has been announced the winner of the 15th edition of the Marie Kraja international opera festival, becoming the fifth Albanian singer to win this prestigious festival since its launch in 1999.
A graduate of the University of Arts in Tirana, Kamani’s victory comes after a third place in the 2013 Marie Kraja festival which was won South-Korean bass Jisang Ryu.
Internationally renowned Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho congratulated both Kamani and the organizers.
“Congratulations Enkelejda for the brilliant achievement, congratulations Zana for the idea and dedication towards realization of this great event for the lyric world, congratulations to the Ministry of Culture for the necessary support… when we all work together we all achieve more…,” wrote Jaho who regularly performs in London, Paris and New York on social networks.
The jury headed by Stephen Langridge, Artistic Director of the Goteborg Opera, handed the second prize to British soprano Elisabeth Bailey. The third prize went to Greece’s Anna Stylianaki and Italy’s Federica Vitali. Spanish tenor Hector Garcia was announced the song winner.
Fourteen emerging opera singers from all over the world were selected to participate in this 15th edition of the only international opera festival in Albania held on Oct. 30 and 31 at the Opera House in Tirana.
Albania was represented in the festival by baritone Armando Likaj and soprano Enkeleda Kamani.
Zana à‡ela, the festival’s founder, describes the festival as an important platform for the promotion of young opera singers and a starting point in their international careers.
The festival is named after Marie Kraja, one of Albania’s most famous opera singers.
Established in 1999 soon after Marie Kraja passed away at the age of 88, the festival was initially held as a national competition, before becoming Albania’s only internationally renowned operatic festival in the next few editions.
The careers of several young performers including Albanian tenor Josif Gjipali, soprano Evis Mula, Belgium’s Micheal Fisch and Turkey’s Perihan Diana Nayir have kicked off at the Marie Kraja festival.
In 2009, young Albanian soprano Evis Mula managed to sign a two-year contract with La Scala, Milan’s world famous Opera House, after winning the Marie Kraja festival.
