American tenor Roy Stevens has been selected to perform the lead role of Skanderbeg in the opera composed by Prenk Jakova on the national hero’s 500th death anniversary in 1968
TIRANA, June 12 – Skanderbeg, an opera named after Albania’s national hero, is making its comeback at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet 44 years after its premiere. American tenor Roy Stevens has been selected to perform the lead role of Skanderbeg in the opera composed by Prenk Jakova on the national hero’s 500th death anniversary in 1968. Skanderbeg’s role at that time was performed by renowned Xhoni Athanas.
A cast of 200 artists are performing in this mega production which the Opera House is staging on the 100th anniversary of Albania’s independence.
Scheduled to make its premiere on June 18, the opera will be directed by Italy’s Carlo Saletti.
“The production aims at unveiling a human figure of Albanian’s national hero and preserve the mythical dimension when it comes to the fighter and leader against Ottoman march to Europe,” says the Italian director.
US tenor Roy Stevens says he has been studying the part since 2009 when he was asked to play Skanderbeg after making his first performance in Albania in the Salome opera.
“I have sung in about 20 countries and I will be performing in Albanian for the first time. I feel honoured on performing the national hero of a country which is not mine,” the tenor told reporters.
Albania’s Opera House soloists Erlind Zeraliu, Manjola Konjari, Ylber Gjini, Armando Kllogjeri are performing in the opera in two-acts.
Zhani Ciko, the director of the Nationa Theatre of Opera and Ballet says the opera is coming to the public rather differently musically and in its stage components to put it on the pedestal it deserves to. “The fact that Skanderbeg was an attractive character is also evidenced in the opera Vivaldi dedicated to him,” says Ciko.
The opera will be staged on June 19, 21 and 22 at 19.00.
