Albania and Austria celebrate their 94th Anniversary with a Special Production of the Magic Flute in Tirana’s TKOB

Tirana, 22 Oct (Tirana Echo) – A special production of Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ will be staged in Tirana’s National Opera House (TKOB) with the support of the Austrian Embassy to mark the 94^th anniversary of the first diplomatic relations between Albania and Austria.

Austrian Conductor Pierre Pichler said that this new production will bring to Tirana’s classical public a classical Magic Flute in its musicality and modern in its production.

“I come to Tirana for the first time and I feel really good from the warm reception I have been reserved by the Albanian artists. I can say that this has been an excellent cooperation with the orchestra which was familiar with this work, and with the organizers who have made sure to bring to the public a classical Mozart in the musical sense as well as a modern one in its production” said Pichler during final rehearsals in Tirana’s Opera House.

Director Nikolin Gurakuqi said that “this show brings a new concept of production, staying faithful to the Germanic theatrical concepts which deals more with the philosophical aspects of this great story rather than the common man. This is exactly what I wanted to bring to the Albanian public, a production staged in a new set full of new digital projection technology“.

The Austrian Ambassador to Tirana Johann Sattler said during a press conference that his Embassy often speaks with authorities on important reforms such as that of justice affairs or the electoral system, but for “me as Ambassador, cooperation with cultural institutions in Albania is equally important. We have a very good cooperation with the National Opera House of Albania and its director Zana Cela”.

The Queen of Night will be performed by Turkish soprano Serenad Uyar while the show will be staged on Sunday and Tuesday nights at 19:00 in Tirana’s National Opera and Ballet Theatre (TKOB).

2016 is the year when Albania and Austria celebrate their close as it marks the 94^th anniversary of the establishment of their first diplomatic relations, as well as the 60^th anniversary of their re-establishment.

The Magic Flute (German: Die Zauberflöte), K. 620, which is considered to have strong Masonic influences, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, which premiered on 30 September 1791 at Schikaneder’s theatre, the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna, just two months before the composer’s premature death.