"Sounds of memory", memorial concert for the 50th anniversary of the Spachi Revolt
2023-06-01 13:30:55
TiranaPost
"Sounds of memory" a special evening, where music and poetry combined with historical evidence, brought unusual emotions on the evening of May 30 in the hall of the Cultural Center of the Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana.
The commemorative concert comes for the second year in a row from the Kujto Foundation, with the support of the Swiss Embassy in Albania and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
This year the event was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the revolt of the Spaçi prison camp, where hundreds of political prisoners, among them artists, were forced to work in the mine, under very difficult conditions.
The song "In the pub I'm sitting", known and loved by the public, had an unknown history until yesterday. It was created by a group of political prisoners in Spaç, in the 70s. Its composer is Andon Vanko, the verses were written by Astrit Delvina and Gezim Medolli, while the orchestration was performed by trumpet player Ali Hoxha.
The song was sung in Spaçi prison, 5 or 6 Sundays in a row, in the few free hours allowed by the prison command in a place called the playroom. The chorus of the song was sung by a choir of prisoners led by the well-known bass player Lukë Kaçaj. All these great artists were simultaneously imprisoned in Spač.
Actress Ema Andrea moderated and interpreted poems by poets convicted in Spaç for political reasons, Visar Zhiti, Sadri Ahmeti, Havzi Nela, etc.
Artistët e tjerë ishin mezosopranoja Vikena Kamenica, baritoni Ylber Gjini, pianistja Kristina Laço, violinicelistja Dorina Laro dhe violinisti Fatos Bardulla.
Këngëtari Tomi Kondakçi performoi “Se kënduam ‘Let it be’ një homazh për këngëtarin dhe ish-të dënuarin e Spaçit, të ndjerin Sherif Merdani. Kondakçi përcolli emocione të veçanta tek spektatorët, pasi ngjitej për herë të parë në një skenë të madhe, të cilën e kishte ëndërruar netëve në burgun e Spaçit, ku ishte dënuar edhe pse pëlqente dhe luante muzikë të ndaluar nga regjimi.
Pjesa dërrmuese e pjesëve muzikore ishin përpunuar nga kompozitori Endri Sina, drejtor artistik i koncertit.
The concert ended with the international award-winning short documentary "White Sheets" written by Luljeta Progni, directed by Pandeli Çeço, dedicated to the multidimensional artist and architect, former political prisoner in Spaç, the late Maks Velo.
Those present had the opportunity to see the exhibition "Life in Spaç" with sketches built on the basis of the testimonies of former convicts in the forced labor camp in Spaç.
The Spaçi revolt culminated on May 21, 1973, and was violently suppressed by the communist regime leading to the shooting of four young men; Skender Daja, Pal Zefi, Hajri Pashaj and Dervish Bejko.
