Emotions/ The Festival of Serenades fills the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum, the stories of the artists

2024-09-27 20:46:00, Qyteti im CNA

Emotions/ The Festival of Serenades fills the courtyard of the Archaeological

The Festival of Serenades has filled the courtyard of the Archaeological Museum in the city of Korça, where for the first time it comes as one of the grandest and most important cultural events. An early tradition of many Korcar citizens who sang while playing the guitars, and today they bring back this tradition of old Korcar songs.

For two hours, the singers from Korça have performed near the museum, giving indescribable emotions to all the participants who sang with them and clapped their hands as a sign of respect and gratitude for preserving the values ??of the old serenade.

Jorgjeta Lalazi is one of the well-known Korça artists, who has been singing serenades since childhood and today preserves the same authenticity of the songs by bringing them back as they were once sung. Among many emotions, Lalazi says that today she feels proud to continue this early tradition while bringing to attention the serenaders who are no longer alive today, but have left traces and history behind.

"I sang on stage when I was very young, from my first stammers to the Skëndi family who accompanied me, mother Pipina with her piano. We are still going, I feel very proud, I really miss the serenaders, those who have been gone for a very short time, from Gjergji Peleshi, Vaso Qirinxhiu, Vangjush Saro, Suljotin. I sing the virgin Korça serenade and today I presented old Korça songs that no one has heard and I have always saved them."

One of the artists who joined the band of the evening in the archaeological museum is the corcar Tomorr Selimi, known throughout the city. He says that the serenade is a music that cannot be repeated and must be preserved in its originality. Selimi remembers the collaboration with singer Spanja Pipa and professor Josif Minga, while he said that they will try to bring the serenade in both forms.

"It is really a beautiful event of serenades. I wish that it continues even further, in the new generations because the serenade is a music that cannot be repeated. I have continued the authentic and original serenades. For many years since we have evolved the bio serenade, as we call it, the first serenade is more beautiful, with singers like Spain Pipa, a very beautiful thing. However, we will try to bring it in both ways."

The old serenade, interspersed with an innovation to bring it more modern for the younger generation, has been joined by the singer Gloria Nure, who is the first of the family to choose this artistic trend. Bure emphasizes that it is both a responsibility and a pleasure for him to continue this tradition that characterizes Korça. Among other things, the Korça artist hopes that this festival will continue every year, to bring tourists and different visitors closer, as well as to embrace the young people with the serenade.

"In fact, I believe that I speak on behalf of the new generation, of the entire city of Korça, not only as a young artist but also as a citizen. It is a responsibility and a pleasure at the same time to continue this very important tradition that characterizes us and it makes us call Korçare. We have before us very prominent names and figures who have contributed to this field and it is our duty to continue this festival with a lot of love and respect. I am the first in my family, but I believe there is no Korça does not sing a serenade. We wish this festival a lot of success and that it attracts as many tourists as possible, because we are happy to continue the classical serenade as it was born We introduce innovations and make it modern and suitable for the new generations."

The city of Korça is the first to start the most important event, among the 4 municipalities selected for this event. Blerta Belliu shows details about the special organization that is being done with this festival, showing that they have chosen the best serenaders who will bring the traditional serenade but also the one mixed with the modern one. This festival will be one of the events that will bring tourists, hoping that these two days the hostels will be fully booked.

"The Festival of Serenades comes within the framework of Tourism For Albania, they are funds that come for the development of tourism from the EU funds. 4 municipalities have been chosen from all over Albania, Korça has started tourism first through cultural events and by talking to all Korça artists , we fell on a common denominator as it is worth the return of the serenade year after year. We chose the courtyard of the archeological museum because it is very nice for the serenade. We chose the serenaders who sing the serenade intact bio and we have done an experiment on how to sing in different places. Tomorrow we will be in the market square where Professor Minga worked together with a band from Tirana. We will bring it in two ways well-known Albanian music such as Eli Fara, Ermira Babaliu, Aurel Tholumi, Bledi Polena, Kamela Islamaj, the Korcari brothers and many others. Professor Josifi brings the serenade as it has been in the tradition, while the other band has renewed it without removing its identity. We will have the Lira Choir, a monument of Korça serenade. I believe that this festival will turn into an event and cultural tourism in Korça. We hope that all the hostels are booked and Korça is still the first in cultural tourism."

Over the years, the serenade has continued to be preserved and passed down from generation to generation. Today's evening brought together the best artists from Korça, who will perform the next day as well, together with well-known names throughout Albania. After the organization at the archaeological museum, the festival will move to the old bazaar of Korça where the brothers Endri and Stefi Prifti will perform for the Korça public and visitors./ CNA