TIRANA, Feb. 12 – Two of Albania’s most prominent international opera stars, soprano Ermonela Jaho and baritone Gezim Myshketa, are back home to perform in Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” two operas part of Puccini’s The Triptych.
“I have returned home to perform in the ‘Suor Angelica.’ It is an opera which I am very fond of. I have performed it even in London where it proved a special success. To me, it is not important where you are, either in Metropolitan or La Scala, the stage remains magical and it transforms me,” Jaho tells reporters.
Jaho, who has become an international star, with regular performances in the world’s best opera houses, says she is pleased to come to Albania and does not expect to be paid for her performance in the Opera House where she grew up as an artist.
“My country is in difficulty. I want to give my experience. This is the second time I have come and I do it for my country,” said Jaho.
Back in 2014, the internationally renowned Albania soprano Ermonela Jaho was honored with the highest medal by the Prime Minister as an ambassador of Albanian art and culture.
The honour to the great Albanian soprano came after her two performances in the title role of Cio-Cio San in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in a return after a seven-year absence on the Albanian Opera House.
“In my effort to do what we can do and to express my pleasure, pride and respect, I didn’t find a greater thing than the exclusive medal that the Prime Minister awards only to heads of states and the prime ministers of other countries,” said Prime Minister Edi Rama.
“Albania is lucky to have such an ambassador, who is envied by every powerful and more reputable country. She is an ambassador that makes us proud and gives us faith and courage to make the impossible so that Albania’s voice sounds beautifully one day in the European stage, in the modest role of a small country such as ours, but nevertheless respected for its voice,” said Rama.
Jaho’s first international performance as Sister Anegelica in Suor Angelica took place at London’s Royal Opera House in 2011, receiving critical acclaim.
Suor Angelica, an opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an original Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano is the second opera of the trio of operas known as Il trittico (Triptych).
Born in Albania, soprano Ermonela Jaho was hailed as a “revelation” by the French musical press after her debut as Violetta in La Traviata at L’Opera de Marseille in December of 2005 and has since gone on to debut at major theaters internationally including the Royal Opera House.
Meanwhile, Gezim Myshketa, another Albanian rising international star will be performing in “Gianni Schicchi,” opera.
“The comedy inspired by Dante’s Inferno takes place in 1299 in Florence but in my mind there is no time and place as long as the theatrical notes sound unbelievably real wherever and whenever. I have tried to bring a conceptual theatre in an almost void stage from the heavy and worthless items and where word and scenic performance, the stimulation of the public imagination and the sublime music will have the only say,” says Myshketa, who is also the director of the “Gianni Schicchi,” opera.
The 32-year-old baritone from Durres received critical acclaim for his starring role as Enrico in Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor in the Marseille Opera Gouse in early February 2014 with the French press describing him as the real surprise of the production.
“Enrico’s role was very demanding and the reaction of the public and French critics made me enthusiastic,” said Myshketa.
The success of the Albanian baritone makes him a new ambassador of Albanian opera after internationally renowned Albanian tenor Saimir Pirgu and sopranos Inva Mula and Ermonela Jaho.
The operas will be staged at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana on February 14, 15, 18 and 20 at 19.00.
