The symphonic suite for piano, orchestra, choir, soloists and multimedia has been an interweaving of languages and cultures. Language as the main means of communication has conveyed to the public the diversity of speech in the historic city of Prizren. Part of the interpretations have been the portrayal of the usual noises in the city streets and in particular the interpretations in the streets with drum, violin and clarinet. "Monade" was a world premiere which officially marked the opening of the concert season of the highest institution of classical music in the country
The sounds of many instruments being tuned before the concert gave the impression of a grand event. The hall was prepared for the concert that officially opened the new season of the Kosovo Philharmonic. Composer Robert Bisha took his place at the piano. He constantly gave instructions to each member of the technical staff of the cinema.
Everyone's emotions and tension could be seen in the rehearsals before the concert, which was also the celebration of the 70th anniversary of "Kino Lumbardhi". It was the spirituals who were testing for the last time for the interpretation of the "Monade" suite by the composer and poly-instrumentalist Robert Bisha. In addition to the audience that was gathering, the rest of the Orchestra was also joining the stage, and when it was completed, the composer Robert Bisha and the conductor Gridi Kraja joined the formation.
The first concert for the new season opened with the sounds of the clarinet, flute and horn. "Pastoral" was the first part of the "Monade" suite, which Bisha also accompanied with electronics. With signs, he communicated with the technical staff about the images that were shown in the background. Film scenes selected by Bisha, such as those from "western" movies, parts of Charlie Chaplin's comedies, and other games that through visuals have illustrated the interpretation of the eight parts of the "Monade" suite, have been visualized on the screen.
In the spring of this year, the composer Bisha would come to Prizren for a residence of several days. He would capture the sounds of the city, the noises, the breath, the voices of anything that would enter his work for a narrative through music and not only. The reason was the process of research and composition, being informed about the history of "Kino Lumbardhi" and, as written in the presentation, "the changing circumstances during its 70 years". "Lumbardhi" became the epicenter in the unraveling of the city's history. He put the musical narrative into the score, titled it "Monade" and with it he returns to the city where this suite for piano, orchestra, choir, soloists and multimedia has its origins.
This symphonic suite was ordered and commissioned by the "Lumbardhi" foundation and the Kosovo Philharmonic. Composer Bisha has assessed it as an important moment for him and for everyone who worked on this premiere.
also
"Monade" in "Lumbardh", world premiere with the story about Prizren
"It was the premiere that has its own significance as something that comes to life, and this came to life, in public, after a few months. In a way to perceive it, it has stayed in the womb of ideas, in the womb of vision. Now it comes to light, it comes to the vision that will be formed more and more. I am very pleased that it came out exactly in Prizren. Personally, I have dedicated more to those who have worked to preserve and maintain the cinema 'Lumbardhi', a multi-artistic place", said Bisha about the work which, according to him, is a reflection of the work of people over the years to preserve the cinema as very important infrastructure for the historical city.
The lights are positioned towards the orchestra and when the group of violins joined it, they revived the "Pastoral" part that started as a light opening and as a warm-up for the instrumentalists. The sight of the flowing river accompanied by sayings about God in the Turkish language put the members of the Orchestra to rest for a few moments, and in those same moments, the call to prayer was heard by imams in some mosques. A type of this singing is one of the eight parts of the suite, the fourth in order, which the composer has titled "Ilahi - Ziçer".
For the work commissioned by the "Lumbardhi" foundation, its director, Ares Shporta, has evaluated it as the best way to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the "Lumbardhi" cinema.
"It was a very intense period in the materialization of the work. Beyond the musical aspect and the emotions they had, I think that as such, the work will be able to travel around the world and present this story about 'Lumbardhi', the meeting with Robert and the collaboration with the city and the Philharmonic", said Shporta. He announced that at the end of November, the cinema will be closed for restoration. "'Lumbardhi' will be closed for restoration and we hope that after that it will not be possible to hear the music coming from the other side of the river and cafes and we will have better opportunities and conditions", Shporta said.
"Ilahi-Ziçer" was like a religious ritual of singing in the mosque. At the beginning of the interpretation and at the end, reference is made to God, where the word "Allah" is mentioned dozens of times. "Ilahia is very beautiful, I had the chance to listen to a hoxha in the Ziçer ritual and it was very beautiful, so I decided to include it, as well as many other elements from the eight parts", added the composer Bisha. The city is taken as an exemplary place for its social commitment through the changes that have started at "Kino Lumbardhi".
also
"Home Neverland" for lonely trips to Pristina
"Dance" was more dynamic and in harmony with all the instruments which were being directed by the conductor Gridi Kraja, while Edon Ramadani was the choir. Electric guitars were part of the lineup and Elvis and Gjulian Bytyqi played on them.
Another chapter in the unfolding of "Monade" was when soloists Anastasia Skenderaj, Urta Haziraj, Elonë Sadiku and Andra Rexhepi joined the stage. "Lullaby" was an Arbëresh lullaby which the composer took from the archives of southern Italy. "Nina-nana" were the words repeated by the interpretation of the soprano Skënderaj, and which was accompanied by vocals by the soloists Haziraj, Sadiku and Rexhepi. For soprano Skënderaj, the concert was as much a challenge as it was a success. The interpretation of "Lullaby" was an emotion in itself for the birth of a child in her family. "Both parts are very beautiful, they have a completely opposite character, a lot of contrasts, maybe I was a little more excited by 'nina-nana', yesterday I became an aunt and I wanted to dedicate it to a newborn. It was really very exciting, then 'Kyrie' has a completely different character and has its own beauty", she said.
The very light sounds of the violin were characteristic of this concert and in particular of the parts "Mantra" and "Arka". The clear sounds of each instrument did not often blend the sounds together. Multimedia as part of the "Monade" suite has offered the views of the sunset while the chamber choir "Dardanica" prepared by Edon Ramadani has interpreted these two parts. Like the glimpses of the sun that were hidden from the surface, so is the light directed by the formation it has interpreted.
In general, the symphonic suite for piano, orchestra, choir, soloists and multimedia has also been an interweaving of languages and cultures. Language as the main means of communication has conveyed to the public the diversity of speech in the historic city of Prizren by presenting the four languages. Part of the interpretations have been the portrayal of the usual noises in the city streets and in particular the interpretations in the streets with drum, violin and clarinet. The scores of the piece "Arke" have been a traditional interweaving where the classical rarely intervenes, without being able to penetrate. It has been like communication for popular and civic music in the city of many cultures. The dramatic performance seemed to end with the sound of discs. As their echoes faded away, the light sounds of the violins were heard more, and they were followed by the sounds of the piano carefully produced by the poly-instrumentalist Robert Bisha.
The tenor Etrit Nuha and the soprano Anastasia Skënderaj performed the part accompanied by vocals also from the members of the Choir. "Shamanik" was the last part with which the concert was closed. It was the most dynamic part of all, where the drum resounded in the entire space of "Kino Lumbardhi".
also
"Home Neverland" for lonely trips to Pristina
The choir followed with vocals and in this part the spirituals dominated the most.
The director of the Kosovo Philharmonic, Baki Jashari, has appreciated the "Monade" premiere as a very special project and as a work that the institution of classical music has not had the chance to have. "Composer Robert Bisha has brought a very special work with great contrasts in theme, orchestration, in the inclusion of many monuments, vocals, video projection, choir, soloists. Of course, this experience will remain an important thing for the Philharmonic to realize such complex works as this", said Jashari. He announced that in a few days, the Philharmonic will travel to the city of Izmir in Turkey. "As part of a Balkan festival, we are invited by the city of Izmir, where with the conductor Gridi Kraja we will present a diverse program with world and Kosovar composers", said Jashari, while he evaluated the month of September as a special experience with all the activities which make the beginning of this concert season special.
