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By:
Sinan Berisha
- November 7, 2025 01:31
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With the aim of becoming a genuine institution for showcasing artists and new musical creations, the RTK Song Festival has opened its third chapter. This year, 20 songs selected from 44 applications are in the competition, including singers from Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the diaspora. It is said to be a completely local production, an indigenous realization of Radio Television of Kosovo, a giant stage in front of a significantly smaller audience than in previous editions, but still maintains the rhythm
The stage is covered in colorful lights, the audience awaits the start and the orchestra prepares. Thursday evening marked the opening of the third edition of the RTK Song Festival. This first night has started the three-night marathon where music, new voices and representation from different Albanian spaces have become the axis of a spectacle that aims to unite through art. It would be truly spectacular if even the burned hall of the Youth Palace were filled to capacity with spectators.
Organized by Radio Television of Kosovo in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Festival aims to promote authentic music and collaboration between artists from all over Albania. This year, 20 songs are in the competition, selected from 44 applications, including singers from Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the diaspora. It is said to be a completely local production, an indigenous realization of Radio Television of Kosovo, a giant stage in front of a significantly smaller audience than in previous editions.
Immediately after the Festival intro, the “Siparantum” choir opened the night with the song “Këngë moj”, composed by Musa Piperku, while the orchestra was conducted by Memli Kelmendi. The Festival presenters – actors Rina Krasniqi and Dukagjin Podrimaj – described the festival as an event that connects tradition with the new and invited the public to experience it as such.
Of the 20 competing songs, the night opened with the song "Amin" as a call for emancipation, performed by Teutë Halili. After it, Almir Kraba sang the song "Nuk ka si ti" in the hip-hop genre, to give way to the song "A po m'sheh" by Elmedinë Ramushi, as the stage filled the space of the hall with a combination of warm and cold colors. Presenter Krasniqi ironized the way ballads used to start with a piano, as she approached Gjergj Kaçinari, who performed with the piano in the orchestra. Under the sounds of that piano alone, she sang a part of the song "Let it be" by "The Beatles". Immediately after it was presented a pop-ballad of love, coming from Semi Tafaj from Elbasan through the song "Vazhdoj".
The presenters invited the winner of the previous edition, Endrit Krasniqi, to perform, who reinterpreted the triumphant song "Flas me gjezen" on stage. He also had a message for all the young artists who competed in the third edition.
"Take it with sportsmanship, enjoy it, it's a chance that doesn't come often," he said.
After that, a clip brought back the "Kosovo Chords" festival on the big screen. It features performances and interviews that have been done with various participating artists over the years. It is accompanied at the end by the sounds of phone message notifications.
The songs brought motifs that move between love, memory and identity. Art Lokaj with an electric guitar in his hand sang the song "Ty" and after him Kiara Juba the song "Nirvana". Egzon Pireci sang the ballad "Kënga jonë", followed by the song "Rreze zjër", performed by Arsi Bako. Laorjan Ejlli from Shkodra performed the song "Një natë skrujita për ty", which is considered a jazz ballad, and after him, the next song "Alo" with feminist motifs was sung by Vjosa Shehu who is mentioned to have come from Belgium, while Klea Dina with "At" brought an internal reflection on the emptiness after love.
In addition to the main trophy called the "Blue Diamond" and two other prizes, second and third place, it has been mentioned that there will also be an orchestra award; an award called the "Silver Pen" for the best text as well as the "Golden Ocarina" for lifetime achievement.
In honor of Benito Mare, singer Eneda Tarifa performed an American collage with motifs from the 60s, created especially for this edition, accompanied by three other soloists. Tarifa was presented as the special guest of this edition.
After the performance, the singer congratulated the organizers for the festival, while also congratulating the participating artists.
"Congratulations on this wonderful performance. Everything seems like a fairy tale, bravo, bravo, bravo," she said.
The night continued like this with the other half of the songs.
The winner of "The Voice of Albania", Florent Abrashi, performed the song "Une dhe ti". Under the indie sounds, the song "Afer" by Dea Berisha was sung, to make way for Zergjina Hasanaj with the song "Pres", which deals with the theme of loss. In honor of Violeta Rexhepagiqi, the song "Vjollca" was sung by the moderator herself, Rina Krasniqi.
The RTK Orchestra accompanied the performances under the direction of Memli Kelmendi, Lindita Isufi and Alfred Kaçinari, while the scenography and lighting enhanced the spectacle. The orchestra was positioned at both ends of the stage, while the conductors climbed onto the circular platform on the left side to direct the orchestra.
"A stage that brings together prominent artists from our country, a fantastic orchestra, fantastic singers, fantastic creativity. To be honest, it is something that our country has been missing and I am very happy that our country now has a festival that represents it and a festival that I believe will send us to the highest cultural pedestal," said conductor Memli Kelmendi.
As the evening drew to a close, people occasionally left the hall before the spectacle in the cold hall had even finished. The final round of the competition song performances included Bledi Kason with the song "S'do të doja dy jetë" and the duet between Nita Latifi and Algert Sala with "Pija". Arjeta Palushaj with "Andrra" started the song twice, because the sound system failed the first time. This technical problem was covered by applause from the few remaining audience members.
Arbëreshi Santino de Bartolo, who is coming to the festival for the second time, has brought the Arbëreshi song "Naze naze" which talks about toxic love relationships. Vlera Kastrati has come with a dedication to her mother through the song "Nanë", while singer Xuxi closed the competition with the song "Identitet", accompanied by the sounds of the lute.
The combination of tradition and contemporary language of music was felt throughout the evening. Festival director Rilind Gërvalla, who is also the director of television at RTK, said that all the work was done by RTK.
"This time we have tried to intertwine tradition with modernity, within a scenography created by our scenographer, Vesa Kraja. Everything you see is the work of RTK. This big stage today is filled with great artists," he said.
To conclude the first night of this third edition, all twenty competing artists took to the stage, performing the song "Baresha" by Rexho Mulliq sung by the icon Nexhmije Pagarusha.
The festival's artistic director, Florent Boshnjaku, reiterated that the festival is a separate institution, hoping that the following nights will continue at the same pace.
"I am happy that the first night was finalized. The festival was created as an institution that we started two years ago. I think that tonight the audience had the pleasure of enjoying this whole show, all these performances of the competing artists, but also the guests," he said.
Through quick stage changes and curated costumes, the evening flowed like a mosaic of voices and sounds that intertwined tradition and modernity. The festival continues over the next two nights, where the remaining songs in the competition will be performed and the winner of the third edition will be announced.
All twenty songs competing in this year's edition will be performed on the second night (Friday), and half of them will be selected for the final night, Saturday night. Gjon's Tears, the singer from Kosovo who represented Switzerland at Eurovision in 2021, has been announced as a performer in the final.