The “Ritual of Life” a musical mixing Albanian folklore with contemporary element– which, premiered last June at the Opera House in Tirana– became the first cultural event to be hosted by the Bashtova fortress
TIRANA, July 25 – Musicians and artists of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the wind band of the Albanian Armed Forces performed last Sunday in the 15th century Venetian style fortress of Bashtove, promoting it as a new historical and cultural heritage site. The “Ritual of Life” a musical mixing Albanian folklore with contemporary elements– which premiered last June at the Opera House in Tirana– became the first cultural event to be hosted by the Bashtova fortress. The event called “Albania art traditions from ancient times to nowadays” was also attended by Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who encouraged the holding of cultural events in other monuments of cultures to promote them as new tourist attractions. The “Ritual of Life” musical, created by Zhani Ciko, the Opera House’s director, brought on stage three main phases of a human being’s life, the birth, the wedding and death, but in the reverse order. Arian Sukniqi, the musical’s director and choreographer says the performance starts with death and closes with birth in order not to leave the sad feeling to the public. “The musical has been treated in a contemporary aspect, it is totally Albanian in every concept and element” said Sukniqi in a press conference earlier. The ethnographic performance brings together soloists of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Ensemble of Folk Dances and Songs. “Our desire was to bring the life of the Albanian ensemble and folk, to bring our ethnos closely connected to life and its cycles,” says Zhani Ciko. The Bashtove castle was built in the 15th century and was used by the Venetians. In the past, the Bashtova area was known as a river harbour on the Shkumbini River and as a centre for the export of grains. The castle has a rectangular shape, 60 x 90 metres. The western part of the castle was rebuilt in the 18th century. Its walls are 9 metres high.
