Verdi’s Don Carlos arrives at Opera House

TIRANA, May 18 – Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlos, a lyrical drama in four acts, will be the next premiere at the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana. A mixed cast of Albanian and foreign soloists have been selected to perform in the opera directed by Albania’s Nikolin Gurakuqi. The selected artists will be accompanied by the symphonic orchestra of the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet and the Wind Band of the Armed Forces. The opera will be premiered on May 24, 26, 28 and 30. The opera’s story is based on conflicts in the life of Carlos, Prince of Asturias (1545-1568) after his betrothed Elisabeth of Valois was married instead to his father Philip II of Spain as part of the peace treaty ending the Italian War of 1551-1559 between the Houses of Habsburg and Valois. It received its first performance at the Thꣴre Imp곩al de l’Op곡 on 11 March 1867. The Don Carlos premiere comes one month after the premiere of Jules Massenet’s Werther, one of the most popular operas in France. The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet has scheduled to stage other premieres such as Puccini’s Turandot and parts by Stravinsky during this year. The big premieres the Opera House is staging this year will also be followed by Albanian and foreign instrumentalists such as a concert with parts from Hungarian composer Franz Liszt and another concert by Albanian born, US based baritone Kreshnik Zhabjaku. This year’s programme will also bring concerts dedicated to the 100th birth anniversary of late Albanian soprano Marie Kraja and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the debut of Albanian internationally renowned soprano, Inva Mula. The National Theatre of Opera and Ballet will be financially supported by the Eagle Mobile operator which has become its general sponsor for the 2011-2012 period.