After 5 years of reconstruction and closure due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the National Theater of Opera and Ballet raised the curtains. A major investment of 14 million euros, which has brought about a radical change in the entire theater, which suffered years of degradation. It now has a modern stage according to European standards, in terms of acoustics, lighting, sound, etc., rehearsal rooms, make-up, dressing room, library, comfortable spaces for the public, etc.

Two gala concerts were planned for this occasion, but it was the one on the 15th that everyone was aiming for. What made this concert so desirable was the presence of the great tenor Placido Domingo and the extraordinary soprano Ermonela Jaho, who offered an impressive performance on the renovated TKOBAP stage.

The concert conceived by the General Director of TKOBAP, Zana Çela, started with a 30-minute documentary, where the history and reconstruction of TKOBAP was told through the voices of many stage artists, director Zana Çela, former Minister of Culture, Mirela Kumbaro, the reconfirmed minister in office, Elva Margariti, who completed the reconstruction process, and Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The concert was a combination of some of the best and symbolic works of operatic music and Albanian choreographic works, bearing the signature of the composers: Father Martin Gjoka, Prenkë Jakova, Česk Zadeja, Tish Daija, with world masterpieces by Verdi, Bizet, Puccini , Vivaldi, Serasade, Donizetti, etc.

The TKOB Orchestra performed under the direction of conductor Martin Andre, the choir under the direction of Dritan Lumshi, soloists Vikena Kamenica, Armando Likaj, Eva Golemi, Klodian Kaçani, Nina Muho, etc. But also the ballet troupe, under the choreography of Angjelin Preljocaj and Julind Dervish. A dignified performance, after which came the reward from the Rama government: doubling the salaries of the soloists and revising the salaries of the entire troupe. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Elva Margariti called it a tribute evening, dedicated to the loved ones we lost in the battle with COVID19, among them many artists; the luminaries of the stage who dreamed of the big world stages, to whom the installation with white flowers at the entrance of TKOBAP, realized by the artist Ergys Krisiko, was dedicated.

Margariti thanked the artists for the sacrifices they had to make during the reconstruction period, without forgetting the decision makers, who started a dream of generations and realized the reconstruction of this building. But, of course, what everyone was waiting for was the performance of Ermonela Jaho and Placido Domingo, which was as excellent as expected. Jaho performed two arias, one-eyed Domingo, culminating in the Germont-Violeta duet from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera La Traviata. A duet that was applauded for a long time by the audience.