The festival will also pay tribute to the 11th edition of the national song contest back in 1972 during the communist regime when several singers, directors and songwriters were imprisoned because of their ‘western’ style performances
TIRANA, Dec. 18 – Twenty-six candidates are participating in the 51st edition of the Festivali i Kenges, the official national competition selecting Albania’s representative to the Eurovision song contest. The three-day festival kicked off on Thursday, Dec. 20 in its traditional Palace of Congresses venue in Tirana, with high hopes that Albania will achieve an even better result in Sweden in 2013 after ranking fifth in this year’s Azerbaijan contest.
The festival will also pay tribute to the 11th edition of the national song contest back in 1972 during the communist regime when several singers, directors and songwriters were imprisoned because of their ‘western’ style performances. The festival hosted by journalist Enkel Demi and model Floriana Garo is directed by two Kosovars. It will be aired by public broadcaster RTSH while everything will be performed live. Two attendants will also have the opportunity to follow the Eurovision song contest in Sweden following a ticket draw in the final.
The Azerbaijani duo, Ell & Nikki who won the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Germany and Hari Mata Hari who represented Bosnia at Eurovision 2006 will be the international acts on the grand final of Festivali i K쯧쳠on December 22. Internationally renowned Albanian tenor Saimir Pirgu will also be a special guest in the festival’s closing night.
Composer Shpetimm Saraci has been selected once again the artistic director Festivali i K쯧쳠and will be supported by his colleague Edmond Zhulali. Both of them are professional musicians and have Eurovision experience.
The Festivali i Kenges is the most important musical event in the country. This year’s edition coincides with the 100th anniversary of the independence of the country, which means that the festival will have a very festive atmosphere, said composer Zhulali.
“We have selected 26 candidates to take part at the 51st edition of Festivali i K쯧쳮 It’s actually quite remarkable that we have this year many new artists and composers, but as usually we have also the ‘active’ singers and some veteran singers. A big group of the participants are singers from several Albanian ‘Talent shows’. We are very happy with this mix of the singers, added Zhulali.
Quite a few familiar names to fans of Albanian Eurovision will return to Festivali i K쯧쳠in December. Previous Eurovision Song Contest entrants Anjeza Shahini and Kejsi Tola will try their luck to get the ticket to Malm
