Zana Cela, the festival’s producer and host, says this year’s 13th edition scheduled to be held on November 30 and December 1 will bring opera singers from four continents including Australia
TIRANA, Nov. 27 – After last year’s suspension due to financial problems, the Marije Kraja international opera festival has reconfirmed its 13th edition, this time at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet. Zana Cela, the festival’s producer and host, says this year’s 13th edition scheduled to be held on November 30 and December 1 will bring opera singers from four continents including Australia. “The novelty is that this festival can be called the festival of the tenors because five tenors are participating. I am pleased to announce this because we all know how rare and invaluable tenors are in the current opera world”, Cela told reporters.
“We are very confident of the high level of competition, which even in this edition, apart from awards, will end up with contracts among opera directors and agencies and participating artists,” she added.
Established in 1999 soon after renowned Albanian soprano 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 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.
The festival’s jury is composed of some of the most prestigious directors of European and American opera houses.
