Members of honour
Stig Fogh Andersen, Tenor
Stig has been one of the most sought-after heldentenors of his generation. He has sung all major tenor roles written by Richard Wagner in nearly all important theatres including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Chicago Lyric Opera, Paris Opéra-Bastille, De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam, Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London, Munich State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin or New National Theatre in Tokyo. In the year 2012 he added Loge in Das Rheingold in London to his repertoire, so that he sung all tenor roles – except Mime - in Der Ring des Nibelungen. Besides this, he has sung a large repertoire including Herodes in Salome, the title role of Peter Grimes, The King of Naples in Thomas Adès’ The Tempest, Florestan in Fidelio, Otello by Verdi and Canio in I Pagliacci. He has worked with conductors such as Christian Arming, Daniel Barenboim, Myun-Whun Chung James Conlon, Mark Elder, Christoph Eschenbach, Hartmut Haenchen, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Bernard Haitink, Neeme Järvi, Philippe Jordan, Jiri Kout, James Levine, Fabio Luisi, Zubin Mehta, Antonio Pappano, Simon Rattle, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Schønwandt, Leif Segerstam or Franz Welser-Möst. Among his CD and DVD recordings are Franz Schmidt’s Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln with Franz Welser-Möst, Brahms’ Rinaldo, Schönberg’s Gurre-Lieder with Esa-Pekka Salonen and with Mariss Jansons, Sigmund in Die Walküre and Siegfried in Siegfried and Götterdämmerung as well as Tannhäuser. As a stage director he has produced Götterdämmerung in Esbjerg, Tristan und Isolde in Copenhagen as well as Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Toddin Odense. In summer 2013 he staged a shortened version of Der Ring des Nibelungen at Christians Kirke in Copenhagen, in which he sang Loge, Siegmund and Siegfried.
Gitta-Maria Sjöberg, Soprano
Gitta-Maria is a Royal Danish Opera singer and vocal coach. She was born in Trollhättan, Sweden. She received her education at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus and the Opera Academy in Copenhagen. After 26 years as a soloist opera singer at the Royal Danish Opera, she is now based in Elsinore. With her exceptional voice, soprano Gitta-Maria Sjöberg is a sought-after guest soloist in large parts of the world, both in opera houses, concert halls and festivals. In recent years, she has also worked as a teacher at Malmö Musikhögskola Opera-Master and has been giving many Master Classes in Denmark and abroad, where promising young talents benefit from her vast experience. She has recorded several CDs and in the latest DVD she received critical acclaim for the role of Kostelnicka in "Jenufa". Recently, Gitta-Maria Sjöberg and Polina Fradkina released the recording "Passing Through" with Russian and Danish songs. Gitta-Maria has received numerous awards in Denmark and Sweden, including the Birgit Nilsson Scholarship and the Edith Brodersen Honorary Grant. She is now a member of several juries that award scholarships to musicians and singers. 1996 she was appointed the Knight of the Order of Dannebrog and 2004 Knight's Cross of the 1st degree of the Order of the Dannebrog. Gitta-Maria is also the chairman of the Birgit Nilsson Sällskapet and Elsinore Song Factory, which organizes Master Classes and concerts, and artistic director of the Nordic Song Festival, which opened for the first time in the summer of 2014 and celebrates its 10th anniversary August 3-11, 2024.
Shkëlzen Doli, Violinist
Shkëlzen is a member of the Vienna Philharmonic and The Vienna State Opera. He has been successfully pursuing the career of a classical musician while maintaining his strong ties with traditional Albanian folk music, where his musical roots are to be found. Born in Elbasan, Albania, Shkëlzen Doli grew up in Gjakovë, Kosovë, won 1st prize in the National Yugoslavian Competition for Young Musicians at the age of 17 and studied at the renowned Music Academy of Novi Sad, later at Vienna’s University of Music. His legendary Russian violin teacher Ewgenia Chugaeva as well as his immersion in Vienna’s musical environment enabled him to embrace both exceptional virtuosity and the unique Viennese style and sound. In addition to numerous solo-appearances Shkëlzen Doli has performed with renowned chamber music ensembles of the Vienna Philharmonic such as “Wiener Virtuosen”, “Toyota Master Players”, “The Philharmonics” and the contemporary music “Ensemble Wiener Collage” and has toured Europe, North America, Africa, Israel, India, China, Korea and Japan. In 2013 he founded his own chamber music group; „Philharmonic Ensemble”. Shkëlzen Doli plays a violin by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, Turin 1771, „ex Beare – ex Tezlaff“, which has been lent to him by Austria’s National Bank.
Suzana Frashëri graduated in 1977 from the Institute of the Higher Arts in Tirana. She was assigned as a soloist singer at the Military Ensemble. From 1985–87, Suzana completed her education as a vocal teacher at the” Santa Cecilia” in Rome under Prof. Valerio Paperi. Suzana was appointed as a lecturer at the Academy of Beautiful Arts (UA) in Tirana in 1987, where she has been a professor since 2004. Suzana had an intensive career with concerts in Albania, Italy, Greece, the USA, Israel, Pakistan, and other nations. Suzana worked with Albania`s TV and Radio Symphony Orchestra under the direction of F. Deda and E. Koco. She has performed with the orchestras of TOB (National Opera and Ballet), AAB, Israel, Greece, New Sounds of Belgrade, and others, with conductors such as Solomon, S. Barlou, N. Sulejmani, and others. Among her repertoire are complete works of Pergolesi such as” Stabat Mater”,” Salve Regina”, Verdi´s”Lésule," and "works by Bellini, Schubert, Mozart, and many others. Cycles of Albanian romances by T. Harapi, Dh. Leka, K. Lara, F. Ibrahimi, and others, with the accompaniment of, among others, R. Radoja, L. Kondi, A. Tartari, and M. Kristidhi. Suzana has won awards from different nations in the Balkans. Among them was the first prize at the T. Harapi Festival in 1996, and she received the Jess Disc of Arts award. She has been a member of the jury for national and international opera festivals and was a member of the EVTA (European Voice Teachers Association). Susana Frashëris students have received prestigious awards such as ” K. Ricciarelli”,” Giuseppe di Stefano”,” Caruso”,” Bernstein”,” L. Genscher"," Wagner,” and” M. Kraja Award."
Kastriot Tusha, Tenor
Kastriot Tusha was born in April 14 1963 in Elbasan, where he finished his studies at the Musical High School “Onufri” from 1984-88. He graduated at the “Academy of Arts” under the direction of pedagogue Gaqo Cako (who is honored as the People's Artist) and professor Kozeta Dule. In 1999, Kastrioti was appointed as a soloist at the TOB (the National Opera and Ballet of Albania), where he sang leading opera roles as Harlequin (Pagliaci-L. Cavallo), Nadir (The pearl fishers,G. Bizet), Alfredo 8 La Traviata, G. Verdi), Doda ( Mrika, P. Jakova), Trimor ( Arbëresh Wedding, R. Dhani), and Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville, G. Rossini). Kastioti sang at many recital concerts, like the “Three Tenors Concerts", “Napolitan Nights”, “ Albanian Romances” and many more, such as “Kastriot Tusha & Friends”. Recitals with the “State Ensemble” and the “Isuf Myzyri Ensemble” and concerts in Albanian and outside the country. He is currently a pedagogue at the “University of Arts” in Tirana. Kastriot Tusha was awarded the title “Ambassador for Peace” and the title “Great Master”.
Zina was born in the city of Elbasan, Albania, on September 20, 1958. She began her first steps in artistic activities in her hometown, where she also received her professional training. Zina continued her education at the "Onufri" artistic high school for canto with pedagogue Faik Faci. Later, Zina pursued her university studies at the Higher Institute of Arts, in the canto department with Professor Gjon Athanas (Honored Artist).Zina has taken part in concerts with the symphony orchestra of the Higher Institute of Arts, the Symphony Orchestra of Albania Radio Television (RTSH), and the Albania National Opera and Balley (TKOB). For about 12 years, Zina Zdrava was a soloist in the army ensemble. She has been honored with the title "Grand Master" awarded by the President of the Republic of Albania, Ilir Meta, the tittle "Honorary Citizen", by the Municipality of Elbasan, and "Ambassador of Peace", supported by the Universal Peace Federation.Since 1995, she has worked as a teacher in the canto department at the "Jordan Misja" Artistic Lyceum and from 2012 to 2015, she was the head of this department. Besides educating young generations at the Artistic Lyceum, she has also contributed as a guest lecturer at the Higher Institute of Arts in Tirana.Zina has been a jury member in competitions for young lyric talents such as "Jorgjie Truja", "ARS Kosova", "Mondo di Luci, Italy" and "The Golden Teddy Bear" Baia Mare, Romania.
Aksinja Gioia, pianist
Aksinja graduated from the Conservatory of the Higher Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana, Albania. She left for Italy in 1989. She has performed countless concerts in Italy, France, England and other nations. She has played for the television networks-B.B.C., R.T.A, Z.D.F, RAI, R.T.SH.,WDR etc. Aksinja has won several major awards including one for her performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. She has played with the Tirana Opera House Orchestra, Albanian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra, Tirana Academy of Fine Arts Orchestra and others. Aksinja has performed in several concerts in collaboration with Unicef, Caritas, Lions and Rotary in favor of third world children. She was a guest on Rai International on "Telefood," organized by "FAO" in aid of developing countries. Along with her concert activity, she has also been teaching for over 35 years. Aksinja has received various awards from the cities of Rome, Milan, Venice, Bari, Brindisi, London, Bath, Bristol, Manchester and others. After achieving a huge success with Tchaicovsky's Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra "The virtuosi of London '' conducted by Sir. Anthony Goodchild, she continues to tour in various European cities. Aksinja has collaborated in the making various films and documentaries such as "RADIO EGNAZIA", "IMPERO" of channel 5, "EUROPA, EUROPA" of the German television ZDF, with the English BBC, with RTSH and various Albanian national televisions. Aksinja has made several films for foreign televisions highlighting Italian culture and traditions. As part of the cultural exchanges between Italy and Albania, she was awarded by the President of the Albanian Republic Bamir Topi with the order "Grand Master".