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The 50th anniversary of the Skënderbeu Ensemble

2024-10-06 12:29:00, Qyteti im CNA

The Skënderbeu ensemble celebrated the 50th anniversary of its creation this Saturday evening! With a gala concert at the Andon Zako Çajupi theater, Kor?ari artists who have performed over the years in this ensemble took to the stage. The Skenderbeu Artistic Ensemble was created in 1974 as a professional ensemble, where it was first known as "October 24" which coincided with the day of liberation, and then it was named the "Skenderbeu Ensemble". Half a century of history and tradition, with the artists who grew up and formed near this ensemble, under the guidance of the most popular figures of the city of Korça. This ensemble has functioned during these years to present the rich folklore tradition, with its instrumental types and genres, as well as the various choreographies, clothing, customs and rituals of the Korca region.

The evening of the 50th anniversary of the creation of this ensemble was a magnificent spectacle, with the performances of the most vocal artists, with the participation of musicians and instrumentalists as well as the dancers of Korça.

The 50th anniversary of the Skënderbeu Ensemble

The well-known composer, at the same time also the leader of this ensemble, Josif Minga, with a very large and important contribution over the years, has shown the great emotions he experiences in this 50th anniversary. Professor Minga says that the emblem of the city is precisely this ensemble that raised and formed a large number of musicians, dancers, singers and instrumentalists who have made a name for themselves in Albania and beyond. Among other things, he remembers with regret and with a sense of longing, the artists who are no longer alive today but have given a lot to Korça with their talent.

"Today we have an important anniversary, the 50th anniversary of the Skënderbeu Ensemble. Like every city that has its own emblems, we had this ensemble where I grew up and it raised us, formed a large number of musicians, dancers, singers, instrumentalists who made a name for themselves. The ensemble has been the emblem of this city not only at the local and national level, but also at the international level where the history is such that it has touched the five continents and I am proud of this because it was enough for me to They say it is Korça of Albania. The emotions are certainly great because we have had very good musicians, and perhaps we feel the greatest regret for those who are no longer there, who I am saying is my production but it is a product of their talent. ."

For Josif Mingë, this ensemble has many culminations, but he remembers one of the most beautiful events that gave him strong emotions in Finland.

"There are many culminations, but I am mentioning only one. We were in Finland for the first time, where Albanian-speakers were very rare. There, after the concert, ex-MP Papulias came and asked me to dance, I did not interrupt and I ordered a pogon to be made, which started at 9:20 and ended at 11:50. Those we took as leaders started asking where the orders came from and I told them that I would explain to you at the end I am a cultural agent, no one asked me who is better Enver Hoxha or Karamalisi, I was told play and sing, this is my mission!".

The clarinet master, Zhani Struga, is one of the most beloved figures in the city of Korça. For 35 years he has been performing at various festivals in the country and abroad, as a clarinetist of the popular sole. Struga says that the most beautiful moments bring him many emotions when he remembers them, while he singles out the Gjirokastra folklore festival as one of the events where he was awarded many prizes.

The 50th anniversary of the Skënderbeu Ensemble

"I have been contributing to festivals, ensembles, everywhere and abroad for 35 years. I have been to every country in the world, as a clarinetist of the popular taban, I have played kaba, Eli Fara's songs, and many others. The beautiful moments for me it's Gjirokastra with the folklore festival that I received a lot of awards. I got a prize and a cup for "the best clarinetist of the Gjirokastra festival".

Korcar artist with a wonderful voice, Eli Fara, was part of the spectacle in the city's theater, performing songs that took her back in time. Eli was only 16 years old when he became part of this ensemble and today, after 50 years, he remembers once again the time when he went on stage feeling nostalgic. After a life with a long artistic career, Eli Fara intends to perform her concert, starting from Korça and then throughout Albania.

The 50th anniversary of the Skënderbeu Ensemble

"To tell the truth, we have moved away from these kinds of concerts, it took me back to the time when I was 16 years old. I got into the heart of the Skënderbeu ensemble with the master musicians, among the best, professors Pavllo Sholla and Josif Minga. We started with two songs and then the repertoire expanded a lot. It was nostalgic this night, I felt like I was 16 years old again. The songs that were created at that time are true, the way Professor Minga brought them with such a lineup beautiful, they make it special. It would be a miracle for me to have my concert, to start it on this stage. I hope it will be done, the professor is here, and so are the musicians, so that's what I'm planning and I hope make it happen."

Artan Bakia comes from Gjakova, as a guest at the gala evening of the 50th anniversary of the Skënderbeu Ensemble. Bakia shows that Gjakova and Korça are physically far away, but they are so close artistically that for her this similarity between them is inexplicable. The emotions for the Kosovar artist are great, while he says that he feels honored to have been part of this unique spectacle in Korça.

"I don't just come from Kosovo, I come from Gjakova, which in fact is a very interesting organic connection with Korça. The physical distance is inexplicable, but artistically they are two very similar cities. It was an honor and respect to be a guest at this jubilee, It's been half a century and I've grown up with the music of this ensemble, with these great masters, with this creativity that we heard tonight. I'm just full of emotions and honored to be part of this manifestation, which is something very rare many more years for the Skënderbeu ensemble and for all the Korcar artists who are unique throughout Albania."

The Skënderbeu Ensemble is truly the emblem of the city of Korça. It is the music itself, the song, the clarinet and the guitar, the folk dance, and many, many elements that the artists of Kor?a do together that have contributed and continue to contribute to keeping the folklore tradition alive. The audience, amid applause, showed that they liked the gala evening and gave them pleasure that they may not have experienced in other evenings, but precisely in this 50th anniversary of the creation of the emblematic ensemble of Korça./ CNA