In Gjakova, on the evening of November 15, the atmosphere of the Albanian Culture Festival “November Days” was ignited with an event that will remain long in the cultural memory of the city. The world-famous Albanian soprano, Ermonela Jaho, held her extraordinary concert “In Gjakova: One Voice, One Soul” at the “Asim Vokshi” Palace, giving a performance that many called “historic”.
Jaho brought to the stage a chilling interpretation of Puccini's opera Suor Angelica. The climactic moment, when Angelica's character learns of her son's death, lifted the entire hall, while Ermonela herself burst into tears during the finale of the work. In a very touching moment, an actor helped her up on stage, while the soprano dedicated the aria to a mother from Gjakova who lost her children and husband during the war; a woman whom Ermonela herself had invited to the hall.
The evening was made even more special thanks to Jaho's collaboration with three young sopranos from Gjakova: Elita Hoxha, Bademe Krasniqi and 12-year-old Suna Lota, who performed a special aria together. Also participating on stage were Gjakova actors Arbies Komoni, Vlora Dervishi and Besfort Berberi, as well as the choir of the "Prenk Jakova" music school.
The hall was packed and, according to those present, by the end “half of the audience was crying.” The event brought a powerful parallel between Albanian dramas and the emotions of operatic art, neatly summarized in Ermal Hasimja’s script.
Ermonela Jaho's concert in Gjakova turned into more than a performance: it was a shared night of pain, pride, memory, and art – a moment that will long be remembered in Albanian culture.
