New cultural season to resume next September

TIRANA, July 21 – The new season for the National Theatre and the Opera House will resume next September with two premieres. The National Theatre will stage the Amadeus play by Peter Shaffer, directed by Altin Basha and starring veteran actor Ndricim Xhepa. The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet which has also concluded its season will resume its performances with magic flute opera composed by Mozart. The opera will bring on stage a cast of mixed Albanian and foreign singers under the direction of Germany’s Stefan Neugebauer. The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet closed its season for the first half of this year with the “Ritual of Life” musical, created by Zhani Ciko, the Opera House’s director. The musical mixing Albanian folklore with contemporary elements brought on stage three main phases of a human being’s life, the birth, the wedding and death. The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet has scheduled to stage other premieres such as Puccini’s Turandot and parts by Stravinsky later this year. Albania’s cultural life in this hot summer is poorer than in previous years. Two important international festivals scheduled to be held this summer have been postponed for next September because of lack of financial support by state institutions. The Butrint international theatre festival and the international festival of modern and contemporary dance have failed to get funds by the Ministry of Culture.