The choir in Pristina opens the passport of Albanian music as a prelude to Slovenia

The Choir of the Kosovo Philharmonic has concluded the year in front of the public in Kosovo, but its journey for this year does not end here. Wednesday night's concert was a combination of Albanian and world works, which highlight the already proven level of this institution. It left the echo of these works in Pristina, but it also served as a prelude to the concert in Ljubljana, Slovenia. "It is very important to represent ourselves with a perfectly prepared program", said maestro Baki Jashari, conductor of the concert. Such was the "test" in the capital

Festive atmosphere not only for the end of the year, but also as a celebration for Albanian music, was the feeling of the concert of the Kosovo Philharmonic Choir. Works by composers from Kosovo and Albania, together with international ones, echoed with the power of the voice in the last concert of this institution before the local audience. 

The sounds of the cello filled the space in the Atelier of the Palace of Youth and Sports in Pristina with tis melancholy. From an intro to the sounds of the piano, to open the show with "Music in the Circle" by the well-known composer Mendi Mengjiqi, an instrumental composition masterfully directed by Baki Jashari, like all the works in the Wednesday night concert. . 

The voices of the Chorus are woven into the work, distancing themselves from each other. The sopranos and altos have been constant and kept a perfect rhythm. It's not often that there are major developments in the work, which doesn't have a vocal break for a moment, and it all stays connected until the end.

The next work was "Cantate Domino" by composer Vytautas Miškinis, a choral work celebrating the text of Psalm 96, "Sing to God a new song", to give way to Hajrullah Syla's "O Magnum Mysterium" in the same spirit . 

Cellist Antonio Gashi has been in charge of interpreting Syla's work, which he considers to be one of the new talents in local classical music. The modern interpretation captures the miracle of Christ's birth and the melancholic sounds of the cello carry the narrative. 

The soprano Arta Jashari with her interpretation of the spiritual text expressed it in the work of the Slovenian composer Ambrož Çopi, "O Salutaris Hostia", a liturgical work with a modern approach. 

One of the works that found space in the repertoire of this night by the Choir of the Philharmonic of Kosovo was that of composer and conductor Baki Jashari, "A little in a dream, a little in a dream", with text by Din Mehmet, an inevitable composition in the unfolding of Albanian classical music. It is an outstanding narrative work that combines poetry or the spoken word with musical elements, and the role of the reciter was Shaban Behramajt. Avant-garde with classical intervention is Rafet Rudi's "In A", performed by sopranos Kaltrina Miftari and Shkurte Hykaj, Lekë Salihu and Andi Duraku on piano, percussionists Patris Berisha and Meriton Zajmi. 

The leap into world works was made with "Kuulin Aänen" by the Latvian composer Laura Jēkabsone, who gives space to the voice with the sopranos Selvije Marteti, Livije Dragusha and Shkurtë Hykaj and the altos Dea Hamdiu, Albana Piperku and Diellza Sylejmani. 

To the roots of classical music in these parts, the return was made with "Corapet e burrit" by Lorenc Antoni. In the Albanian music of another era, came "Ç'u mbush mali", by Vasil S. Toles, followed by "Cloudburs" by the composer Eric Whitacre, which filled the hall with vocal harmony. 

Jake Runestad's Nyon Nyon was performed by the Choir as an innovative choral work that combines vocal techniques with electronic-like effects. The concert has ended in Albanian. It was dramatic with "Janin's eyes saw", which is the "passport" of polyphony. Tenors Sokol Latifi and Luan Durmishi have brought the magic of this treasure. 

The concert in Pristina was a prelude to the Choir's performance before the Slovenian public, on December 15 in the "Marjan Kozina" hall of the Slovenian Philharmonic. 

"Every note, a story", is the motto of the Philharmonic's concerts, which this year has had several success stories abroad. Albania, North Macedonia, Greece and Italy were some of the stations. 

Conductor Baki Jashari, who for 18 years, until April of this year, was the director of the Kosovo Philharmonic, has singled out several moments, such as the closing of the year with a concert in Slovenia, where he studied at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana, and then developed his musical career until 2000 when he returned to Kosovo.

"I would single out the realization of Gustav Mahler's 'Symphony No. 1', a dream for our institution", said Jashari, describing this achievement as a technical and artistic culmination for the Philharmonic. It is about the concert of September of this year, with which the Philharmonia marked the 24th anniversary of its foundation. 

Conducted by the Japanese maestro, Toshio Yanagisawa, the Orchestra would be tuned for one of the most outstanding works of classical music between the 19th and 20th centuries. 

But for Jashar, the concert in Slovenia has a special personal meaning. 

"After 25 years, I will return to the stage where I debuted as a composer. For me, Slovenia remains an extraordinary country, not only for the memories, but also for the cultural importance", said Jashari, who has led choirs in Slovenia for 15 years and participated in numerous competitions, building a bond of strong with this country.

The program of the concert in Pristina that will be "reenacted" in Ljubljana, has another weight in the presentation of the institution, even though they are not works that are being heard for the first time. 

"The program presented by the Choir was not entirely a premiere, but contained selected works to show the best abilities of the Philharmonic. It is very important to represent ourselves with a perfectly prepared program. In Slovenia, where there are over 1000 registered singers, it is a big challenge to make an impression", said Jashari. And this program – a mix of musical styles – is a chance to create a positive impression and show the tradition and potential of choral music in Kosovo. 

"The human voice is a powerful reflection of the soul, setting choral music apart as a special form of artistic expression. Our choir usually leaves deep impressions wherever it goes, as happened in London in 2018. This concert was a great state and artistic responsibility for us", said Jashari. 

Cellist Antonio Gashi has said that performing with Kori always gives him the same feeling. 

"I am always excited when I listen to Kori, because every time he presents new and fresh works. It is a special pleasure to cooperate with Kori", said Gashi. The work of Hajrullah Syla has been singled out in the program. He did this for another reason. 

"I am delighted that a new generation of composers is coming with fresh ideas, who create such works that unite the cello and the Choir in a very pleasant and refreshing way", he said, adding that it is one of the works that he he interprets it very willingly. It emphasized Syla's perspective as a promising composer. 

"This combination is healthy and useful for the people and our country", said Gashi. 

Albanian voice and music echoes even after the concert ends and the hall of the Atelier Palace of Youth begins to empty. In another hall - under different conditions - this echo will resound on Sunday in Ljubljana.