"Gjiro Classica" classical music festival brings together Albanian and foreign artists, with concerts and music competition

The "Gjiro Classica" festival in the next edition created special emotions. Concerts with works by well-known authors, but also a music competition were part of this edition in the city of Gjirokastra. The festival was born as a necessity for the expansion of Albanian music scenes in important cities such as Gjirokastra, a city in UNESCO, one of the important cultural and tourist centers. "Gjiro Classica" comes as the only festival of its kind in Gjirokastra and the artistic director pianist Kristina Petrollari Laço shows that this second edition was followed with great interest by the public. A festival, which held several concerts on different days in Gjirokastra, where part of it is the competition "Tempo", which ended with the awarding of prizes for young instrumentalists. Concerts took place in the castle museum, but others also took place at the Gjirokastra Bazaar. Albanian and foreign artists were part of this edition, a musical activity important for the artistic director Kristina Petrollari, who says that for the public in the festival program was meant to be a pleasant music. "In Gjirokastra there is no tradition of classical music and it is a bit difficult. The way the works are chosen has always been sought to be enjoyable. For example, Dvorak trio, which is a work with a popular character, Piazzolla-Stinët, so works that first try to bring the public closer and then to pass genuine classical music ", says Petrollari. The president of the “Gjiro Clasica” festival is the piano teacher Mimoza Çabeli and the artistic director Kristina Petrollari Laço and Dorina Laro. The opening concert of the festival on May 19 came with four well-known artists of the Albanian scene, where works by Bach, Rachmaninoff, Dvorak and Piazzolla were performed. It was in an evening with artists Sihana Badivuku, Dorina Laro, Kristina Petrollari and Mimoza Çabeli. "Il Classicio Incontra Il Jazz" with artists Besjan Herri, Luca Garlaschelli, Kristina Petrollari and Claudio Piastra took place within the festival, a special concert at the Gjirokastra bazaar with works by Diabelli, Morricone, Piazzolla and Bolling. Following the event, the festival closed on June 23 with a festive concert with the children of "Gjiro Classica". "Il Classicio Incontra Il Jazz" with artists Besjan Herri, Luca Garlaschelli, Kristina Petrollari and Claudio Piastra took place within the festival, a special concert at the Gjirokastra bazaar with works by Diabelli, Morricone, Piazzolla and Bolling. Following the event, the festival closed on June 23 with a festive concert with the children of "Gjiro Classica". "Il Classicio Incontra Il Jazz" with artists Besjan Herri, Luca Garlaschelli, Kristina Petrollari and Claudio Piastra took place within the festival, a special concert at the Gjirokastra bazaar with works by Diabelli, Morricone, Piazzolla and Bolling. Following the event, the festival closed on June 23 with a festive concert with the children of "Gjiro Classica".

Festival in tradition

This festival aims to become a tradition for this city. According to the pianist and art pedagogue Kristina Petrollari, the music competition for young instrumentalists was also important. This year we opened the "Tempo" competition for children. There is a modest music school in Gjirokastra. They are colleagues, who work with a lot of dedication. "We think that the more children have the opportunity to perform, the better, because every musician grows on stage," she said. Children from Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro participated in this competition. Pianist Petrollari, a well-known name with her artistic activity in our country and with appreciation for what she conveys to the public, says that this competition will be a tradition at the festival. "A competition that will always take place in Gjirokastra, in the last 15 days of May. The festival was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Gjirokastra Municipality in cooperation with TID Gjirokastra. "" Gjiro Farm "has given the big prizes of three instrumentalists in the competition", says Petrollari. The final trophy celebration took place on May 22 at the museum at the castle in Gjirokastra. Dario Konçi received the “Margarita Kristidhi” trophy on piano, Marion Kame on cello with the “Gëzim Laro” award and Vesa Duma was awarded the “Ibrahim Madhi” award on the violin.