It was the second night of the 18th edition of the international music festival "DAM", which brought two young musicians, Arsim Gashi and Andi Duraku, to the stage of the New Amphitheater of the University Library. From the first step on stage it was clear that the duo was ready to take the audience on a journey of emotions and important works in the violin repertoire.
Both virtuosos, one on the violin and the other on the piano, began the musical journey for Tuesday evening with Edvard Grieg's violin sonata in C minor. From the first sounds it became clear that a great passion was fueling a synergy that went beyond mere collaboration, every note resonating with the intensity of their love for music.
Violinist Gashi has said that the stage of the "DAM" festival was a dream come true for him, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity that his professor, at the same time the artistic director of the Festival, offered him.
"Now it's very good that I finished it, because at the beginning I was very stressed since it was the first time I'm performing at this festival and it's one of the festivals I've dreamed of since childhood, and I thank Professor Rreze Kryeziu for this opportunity. Now I am very calm and earlier I was full of emotions".
The duo went through their repertoire from composition to composition and each piece held its own emotional weight for the performers. The evening culminated with Gashi's solo performance of Giuseppe Tartini's Violin Sonata in G minor.
For him, this concert marks the last performance as a student, that's why the program was like that, a summary of the works with which they have been announced during the years of studies.
"I've almost finished university and this concert probably didn't have a title, but I did it for the conclusion of my life as a student, because it's the last concert as a student, for this reason some of the works from the past years where I tried to make a summary and here we saw the result. We did more work individually, because the good thing is that the whole arch ensemble are all professionals and my colleagues and we didn't have much work with them. They were perfect, the rehearsals lasted a few days and the result was wonderful", declared Gashi.
In the last part of the concert, Arsim Gashi was joined by the string ensemble and the concert ended with as much magic as it started. The artistic director of the Festival, Rreze Kryeziu, in addition to being part of the "DAM" organizing team, said that she is also proud as their professor, where she was given the opportunity to see the progress of her students up close.
"Being a part of the institution where Arsimi and Andi, who accompanied Arsimi to complete his studies, I had the opportunity to be closer to their professional development, so I expected nothing less. I am pleased that we are returning to our primary mission, which is the promotion of young musicians who are on the rise, like Arsimi and Andi, who are distinguished on the local scene and we hope that very soon they will step on the international scene as well. ".
Regarding the selected program, Kryeziu said that it shows a lot about the passion and enthusiasm of the musicians to challenge themselves and present themselves as well as possible to the public. He estimated that with such concerts they are approaching the mission with which the Festival started.
"Education, very enthusiastic is a fantastic guy who has constantly challenged himself with such demanding programs, touching different styles technically not easy programs, he has managed to realize them quite well and at the same time what makes me very happy is that we still have those young musicians who are very passionate about their profession and enthusiastic to continue further and at the same time grateful for those who take care as much as they can either through festivals or activities others as sisters to help them. Education said that it was a dream of his, he never told me that he had a dream to be a part of the Festival, because after all the Festival is at their service and such dreams affect everyone".
Andi Duraku accompanied the concert with piano. For him, it is the second time he steps on the stage of the "DAM" festival. He said that every time is a pleasure and that it is a very good opportunity, especially for young musicians.
"Education had received the invitation to appear at the 'DAM' festival and at the same time I also received an invitation to appear together at this festival, in which for me it is the second time and it is always a pleasure".
The 18th edition of the international music festival "DAM" will continue with its program until September 9.
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