TIRANA, Jan. 8 – “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” two operas part of Puccini’s The Triptych will return to Albania internationally renowned Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho and baritone Gezim Myshketa next February, the Opera House has announced in its calendar of events for the new 2015 season.
Jaho’s first international performance as Sister Anegelica in Suor Angelica took place at the Royal Opera House in 2011, receiving critical acclaim.
Internationally renowned Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho returned home in 2014 after a seven-year absence to perform one of her favourite pieces, the title role of Cio-Cio San in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.”
Jaho returned to the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana after shining in the lead roles of Manon Lesacat at the Royal Opera House in London and as Mathilde in Rossini’s “Guillame Tell” in Brussels in early 2014.
“I have always considered the role of Madama Butterfly connected to Albanian women in general because to me, the role of Cio-Cio San, is the embodiment of a woman’s spirit because of loving like a teenage, hoping like a child and self-sacrificing like a prophet,” said Jaho.
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.
Gezim Myshketa, another Albanian opera singer shining on international stages, will perform in Gianni Schicchi, another opera of Puccini’s Il Trittico.
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.
