Artists: The first Albanian opera "Mrika" a work with beautiful music, it represents the Albanian reality of that time

The work "Mrika", the first opera in the history of Albanian musical art written by Prenkë Jakova with a libretto by Llazar Siliqi. "Mrika" was performed for the first time on December 1, 1958 in the city of Shkodra, but 65 years after its premiere, artists say that it was the talent of the creator Prenkë Jakova that finalized the creation of this opera. Conductor Oleg Arapi says that the work "Mrika" by Jakova has values ??not only as the first Albanian opera, but also for its dramaturgy. The opera "Mrika" by composer Prenkë Jakova is the first Albanian opera.

 It represents the Albanian reality of that time. It has value not only as the first Albanian opera, but it has the best dramaturgy, which is expressed in the musical language of solos, chorales, duets, etc., which the composer with professional skill has put into musical notes", says master Oleg Arab. Conductor Oleg Arapi says that "Mrika" is a work that takes its source from national creativity, which according to him gives it a national character. "The orchestration gives both an accompanying and a soloist color, which creates a very beautiful musical color of the musical dramaturgy. The fact that the opera was staged for the first time in the city of Shkodra by Shkodra artists proves the fact that the city of Shkodra has not been called the cradle of Albanian music for nothing," says master Oleg Arapi.

December 1, 1958 marked day for national music

 The work of the composer Prenkë Jakovë was shown for the first time in the city of Shkodra, and then continued in Tirana. Academician Vasil Tole, former director of the National Theater of Opera and Ballet, says in his reaction that December 1, 1958 is a marked day for our national music. "The first Albanian opera "Mrika" is staged by the musicians of the city of Shkodra. It was the extraordinary creative talent of Prenke Jakovo that finalized the creation of this opera, and of course his other skills as a conductor and artistic leader of this historical production. Gratitude to its creators, soloists, choir and orchestra, director, painter and scenographer, auxiliary sector, gratitude to the citizens of Shkodra, the city of art and music!", says Tole. The former director of TKOB says that a year later, on November 26, 1959, the opera "Mrika" touched the stage of Tirana, while he posted on his website a material about the work. "You can see its premiere in the capital in this documentary of the time, while you can find the spirit and characters of that magic called opera in the novel "An angel with ears in a tailcoat", by the writer Stefan Çapaliku", says academician Tole.

 The first soloist in TKOB Skënder Jazexhiu says that "Mrika" is a major work with an Albanian theme. "The work of Prenke Jakovo, one of the greatest composers in the country, and we were proud when we looked at that work with that beautiful theme, because it has an emotional theme. A very beautiful work, this opera should have opened the operatic season at TKOB", says Jazexhiu. Prenkë Jakova (Shkodër, June 27, 1917 - September 16, 1969) was an educator, musician, composer and the author of the first Albanian opera entitled "Mrika". The play "Mrika" at TKOB was performed on November 26, 1959, directed by Pandi Still and conducted by Mustafa Krantja.