The concert of the soprano Arta Jashari in collaboration with the pianist Mirco Rovarelli is like a free journey through masterpieces of Italian operatic music and pearls of Albanian music. But “behind the scenes” is a long and dedicated journey. “Arie di Libertà” was the title of the concert which, in the meeting with the scenography – with a kind of starry sky in the background – gave the feeling of a trip to the galaxy of operatic music
From 19th century Italian romances to Albanian folk song, soprano Arta Jashari has built an evening that has moved between operatic elegance and warmth. She brought the concert “Arie di Libertà” (Arie of freedom) in collaboration with the Italian pianist and conductor Mirco Roverelli with a wide and challenging program that proved not only her vocal skills, but also the interpretive maturity of the artist who built each work as a stage narrative.
The evening started with pearls of the Italian repertoire such as “A Vucchella”, “Sogno”, “Marechiare” by Paolo Tosti, to continue with “Non Ti Scordar Di Me” by Ernesto De Curtis and “Musica Proibita” by Stanislao Gastaldon. The program then moved to the lyrical atmospheres of Bellini with “Malinconia”, while the audience also had the opportunity to listen to “Intermezzo” from the opera “Cavalleria Rusticana” by Pietro Mascagni, performed solo on the piano by Roverelli.
The rest of the concert is characterized by well-known operatic arias such as “Vissi d’arte” from the opera “Tosca”, “Senza mamma” from “Suor Angelica”, “Tu, tu piccolo Iddio!” from “Madama Butterfly” and “La Tregenda” from the opera “Le Villi”, all by Giacomo Puccini. They are works that require consolidated vocals, control, emotional depth and acting skills. Jashari has put these elements to the function of interpretation.
“They require a lot of dedication and work. They are very difficult arias that are big roles and that take years to work on. The ‘Senza mamma’ aria was maestro Roverelli’s idea to work on because it was the idea that they should be arias that fit my vocals as he already knows them better than anyone else. All of them have themes that need to be acted and in this way I tried to bring to the audience what I have really studied for the role to be staged. I am happy that the effect has managed to reach the public”, said the soprano Jashari.
She has shown that the contacts with maestro Roverelli were a result of her visit to Italy a year ago, as long as the pair have been working together.
“From my first trip to Rome, which I made as a tourist, in the Basilica of San Pietro, I met a series of people, musicians, who offered me to collaborate with them. Then I met Maestro Roverelli, who is from the most special and highest institution in Rome, the Accademia di Santa Cecilia. After he heard me, he took me to work together and we have been collaborating for a year. It was my idea to bring a music that maybe is not sang before in this form. We have also changed the style a little so that there is a change in the atmosphere”, said Jashari.
Next was the absolute premiere of the work “Cim, cim, ca” by academician Vasil S. Tole. The work is unfolded as a play of traditional rhythms and colors, with lively stage energy that involved the audience, who became part of the atmosphere through rhythmic clapping. The melodic freshness and its communicative character have turned the premiere into one of the most special moments of the evening.
“I wanted to sing the premiere of the work of the famous composer, academician and ethnomusicologist, Vasil Tole, whom I thank very much for entrusting me with the work which made the audience stand up. Then the song of the great, Nexhmije Pagarusha, which I always have in the program, and I ended it with the well-known work from the movie ‘Godfather’ which I think everyone knows”, said Jashari, one of well-known names of the vocal scene in Kosovo. He has performed in concerts, operatic productions and various artistic projects, building a profile that combines international and Albanian classical repertoire.
The Albanian program of the concert continued with “I love Pristina” arranged by Kreshnik Aliçkaj. It was a performance where trumpeter Avni Krasniqi joined the vocal narration. The dialogue between the voice and the trumpet has created a nostalgic and solemn atmosphere. He made the song a kind of declaration of love for the capital.
The program continued with the voices of the children’s choir “Ocarina” in the interpretation of “Fly the white dove” as well as “We are flowers” from the opera “Skënderbeu” by Prenk Jakovo. Arta Jashari, sopranos Elona Sadiku and Urta Haziraj and alto Andra Rexhepi joined in this performance. The “Okarina” choir was under the direction of soprano Elikona Hysaj-Shala.
The concert was concluded with “Parla Più Piano” by Nino Rota, the famous theme from the movie “The Godfather”, with Avni Krasniq on the trumpet, the last beat from the concert that gave it an intimate and emotional ending.
For Roverelli, it was the first time that he had performed not only in Kosovo, but in the entire Balkans. He also appreciated Jashar’s potential.
“She has a fantastic voice. For me, it is my first time in Pristina and in the Balkans in general. We had a repertoire full of Italian works, but also Albanian ones. It is a very good program. The Albanian and Balkan pieces are very good music. The rhythms are difficult, but also very interesting”, said Mirco Roverelli, Italian pianist, conductor and pedagogue with extensive concert activity.
Associated with the prestigious tradition of the “Santa Cecilia” National Academy in Rome, he is known for his work with operatic singers and for his performances as an accompanying pianist on various European stages.
The Amphitheater Hall of the University Library was completely filled. The great heat did not stop the attendees from following the concert until the end.
Soprano Adelina Thaçi has assessed the concert as a success.
“Arta Jashari is a complete artist, with an extraordinary voice. Today she is presented mainly with Italian repertoire, with composers of various arias, solo songs and even Albanian ones, where I single out the song about Pristina that was sung by Nexhmije Pagarusha. It was a fantastic concert. May God have more concerts like this because these are not only concerts of value that add to society, but are also spiritual food for the people who come to listen to them”, he said Thaci.
Even the composer and conductor Memli Kelmendi has appreciated the performance of the soprano.
“A very good concert, with works that are really not easy to sing. The atmosphere was hot and Arta Jashari made it even hotter. I wish you a lot of success. Arta has incredible potential and I am happy that tonight I shared my time and was at this concert”, he said.
“Arie di Libertà” has been like a dialogue between Italian and Albanian tradition where the virtuosity and emotions of the works have become one.
