Gjergj Sulioti & Ylber Gjini -Carmen - National Theatre of Opera and Ballet Albania 1999

Title scene (Acte 3)
1) Je suis Escamillo : Escamillo/José
2)Hola! hola! Jose! : Carmen/Escamillo/Dancaïre/Remend
* Special award in Italy
*The first Albanian opera in Greece (Epirotian Οpera "Jakalof" - Ioannina 19-21 Juny 1999)
Libretto: Henri Meilhac, and Ludovic Halévy
Composer: Georges Bizet
Conductor: Bujar Llapaj
Director: Nikolin Gurakuqi
Choir master: Suzana Turku
Scene designer: Genc Shkodrani
Concertmaster: Lindita Kotorri
Assistant Conductor: Altin Babameto
Assistant Choir master:Lindita Kotorri/Bujar Alliu/Ingrid Pulizo
Piano: Ingrid Pulizo
Choreography: Kozeta Bakiu
Carmen (Mezzo-Soprano) : Manjola Nallbani
Don José (Tenor) : Gjergj Sulioti
Escamillo (Bass-Baritone) : Ylber Gjini
Micaëla (Soprano) : Mariana Leka
Zuniga (Bass) : Petrika Rëmbeci
Moralès (Baritone) : Dritan Luca
Frasquita (Soprano) : Valentina Jaho
Mercédès (Mezzo-Soprano) : Majlinda Mece
Don Kairo (Baritone) : Pandush Koka
Remendato (Tenor) : Aleksandër Rrapaj
**Gjergj Sulioti
Gjergj Sulioti was born in Korçë on the 29th of August 1950 in a family with a long tradition in musical culture, and hails from Florina, Greece. His father, Piro Sulioti, had a leading role in the first Albanian operetta “Agimi”, created by Kristo Kono, which was presented in 1954. His mother was an amateur actress in the theatre “A.Z. Cajupi”, while his sister Ζhanet Sulioti is a singer and music teacher. During his years in “Raqi Qirinxhi” middle school in Korçë, he was a leading figure in his school’s musical team, while in 1966 he competed in the song festival of Radio Korçë, where he won the first prize, leaving his father - who was already a household name in Albania - in second place. In 1973, he continued on to higher education in the field of vocal studies in the University of Arts (formerly known as the Academy of Arts) in Tirana, and in 1978 he was appointed as a soloist in the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania in Tirana. Whilst still a student, he made his debut in the biggest musical event of Socialist Albania, the 14th Festival of Song (“Festivali i Këngës”), where he stood out and received many awards. At the same time, he made his successful debut on the grand stage of the Opera in the operetta “Celula e Kuge” (“Red Core”) in the city of Shkodër. In 1978, he played a part in the opera “Karnavalet” (“Carnival”), where he demonstrated his great stage abilities. He, also, starred in the opera “Lulja e kujtimit” (“The Flower of Memory”). In 1979, he played the part of “Count Almavira” in Rossini’s opera “The Barber of Seville”. Some other parts that made a mark on him are the role of “Trimor” in Rauf Dhomi’s 1979 opera “Goca e Kaçanikut” and the role of “Muji” in Tish Daija’s 1980 opera “Vjosa”. Moreover, in the late 1970’s, Sulioti shines with his songs in the “Concerts of May” (a cultural event of Socialist Albania) and the established concerts of Radio Tirana, in which he earned the prize most of the times. His most popular song was the “Song of the Teacher”, which informally became the hymn of the educators on the official Teacher’s Holiday on the 8th of March. During the 1980’s, Sulioti played roles in multiple operas presented in the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Tirana. In 1982, he was part of the opera “Skenderbeu”, in which he portrayed the role of “Lekë Dukagjini”, while the role of “Gaston” in the 1983 opera “Traviata” proved ideal for his vocal and stage abilities. In 1984, he portrayed “Golan Lugapari” in Avni Mula’s opera “Borana”, and two years later he played “Skënder” in the opera “Zgjimi” and “Schneider” in the opera “Nëna e trimave”, again by Avni Mula. In the meantime, he played the role of officer “Spaleta” in the third act of the opera “Toska”. In 1988, he played “Ilir” in the opera “Liceistet” in Korçë. In 1989 he portrayed the titular role in the fourth act of Verdi’s “Othello”, while in the same year, he appeared as “Kola” in the comic opera “Paja” by Nikolla Zoragi. In 1990, he played the part of “Kano” in Leonkovalo’s opera “Palaço”, and also the part of “Don Jose” in Bizet’s “Carmen”. After the fall of the socialist regime, Gjergj Sulioti left the domestic cultural scene and moved to Greece. However, he soon returned to Tirana he played the role of “Karavados” in “Toska”. It is worth noting that Sulioti has actively participated in many other musical projects, such as concerts and recitals, both within and outside the country. He has been involved with the “Folk Ensemble” and has performed in multiple concerts in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Turkey, Italy and more. In 1995, he was part in the cast of “Toska”, which was presented in a Balkan festival in Greece, and later on he participated in “Rigoleto” in Italy, where he was awarded with the first singing prize.