“If you miss me / Go out among people and look for me!
With songs on my lips / all my life / I want to be near you / …how I miss you”
The outstanding singer and violinist was born in Sarandë on January 8, 1968. At a young age, she stood out as a little girl who sang and recited beautifully in the kindergarten. He recited many popular poems of the time and imitated some Festival songs. It is worth mentioning her participation in the “Fatosa” Festival of the Vlora district, where she appears as a dancer in the role of a “worker bee”.
Anita’s talented performance attracted the attention of the jury members, who rated her as the best dancer and singer of this Festival.
For the first time the great professor encountered such a talent gifted by nature. Anita, according to the professor, was one of those rare cases who had 99% God-given talent and only needed 1% work to become a violin genius. The professor’s intuition was not wrong; It would only take one year of work for Robert Papavrami and Anita to appear in front of the Vlore audience in a violin duet, stunning the hall with their virtuoso performance.
From the age of 8-14, Anita was a regular participant of the Pioneers Festivals of the Vlora district, being awarded with honorary awards. To be mentioned are the songs sung by her “My doll”, “Dawn and the broom” etc…
She was a dreamy child and very passionate about music and singing. The singer Vaçe Zela was her idol and she dreamed of becoming like her, a famous singer. Her special talent for music attracted the attention of the violin professor, Mr. Robert Papavrami, who was amazed by this child’s musical ear in the competition that took place for the acceptance of new elements for the first grade of the “Naim Frashëri” music school. ” in Vlora. For the first time the great professor encountered such a talent gifted by nature.
Anita, according to the professor, was one of those rare cases who had 99% God-given talent and only needed 1% work to become a violin genius. The professor’s intuition was not wrong; It would only take one year of work for Robert Papavrami and Anita to appear in front of the Volon audience in a violin duet, stunning the hall with their virtuoso performance. The elementary and 8th school years were characterized by a high artistic maturity in the violin, but Anita was also a good student in other disciplines.
She had a special passion for sports, she especially liked gymnastic exercises and handball games (basketball and volleyball) and in this field she appeared as a born athlete. In her high school years, Anita began to secretly study and believe in the existence of God and blindly obey Him. Everyone was surprised by her religious beliefs, forbidden at that time. Without any fear, she expressed that her talents were a gift from God and she looked at everything from his point of view. In the high school of music “Naim Frashëri” in Vlorë where she continued her studies, she was characterized as an exemplary student, especially in the violin, which was also the instrument she studied.
The childhood passion, singing, had given way to violin and solfeggio. In the years 1980-1986, Vlonia was presented to the public as a violinist in the orchestra of the “Naim Frashëri” music school, but growing up, her passion for singing was calling her, which Anita began to demonstrate to her classmates and canto professors. Everyone realized that in addition to being a talented violinist, she also had an incredible voice. “A sweet and at the same time rare voice”, described her professors.
CAREER AS A SINGER
Anita’s first song on a national scale is titled “Hartimi dhe Dëbora”. In the Musical Survey of Radio Tirana for this song, it is appreciated for its brilliant interpretation. Then, her successes continued with the very popular song, “Don’t hurry, don’t make a mistake” by Alqi Boshnjaku at the 1988 “Spring Concert”, where she was awarded the first prize. Anita’s talent could not fail to attract the attention of popular composers of that time. Flamur Shehu was the first to believe in her and start collaborating with her in several festivals of the Albanian Radio Television.
It is worth mentioning the interpretation of the songs “May flowers bloom in January”, “There is no formula in Love”, “Abracadabra” etc. In these years of triumph, Anita was accepted as a professional singer in the troupe of the Vlorë Estrada Theater. Then she reaps an extraordinary success on a national scale with her recital concerts entitled “Anita”. In each passing year, Anita was seen as a big risk for receiving the awards, because from song to song, from year to year, she confirmed herself as a singer without whom the festival had no meaning.
All this was achieved only by her indisputable talent, the way she interpreted the song, full of taste and above all, because she had the courage to introduce new contemporary and very modern elements for the time. The singer Anita Bitri has everything that God has given to an artist. In addition to singing, Anita did not neglect her studies, it was her will and desire that made it possible to continue her high school studies at the Higher Pedagogical Institute “Aleksandër Xhuvani” in Elbasan, where she graduated as a singing teacher in 1989.
She practiced the profession of teacher for only a few months, as what called her was singing. God had assigned her a mission, to make her people happy with her magical voice. The “Anita” recital concerts, which took place with great success in every corner of the Motherland, made Anita gain extraordinary popularity in every city of Albania. After a successful show in Tropoja, he was invited to go to the USA.
In March 1996, he arrived in the “promised land”. During her stay in America, Anita’s artistic activity has been unstoppable and always growing. She has always been connected with the problems of the Albanian Diaspora and has helped a lot in increasing the prestige of Albanian art. Anita was not only a talented artist, but also an ardent patriot.
It is worth mentioning her participation in charity concerts and various Diaspora activities to collect aid for the war in Kosovo. In this context, it is worth mentioning the charity concert that took place on April 10, 2000 to collect aid for the poor children of Albania. For this concert, Anita deserves the praise and respect of the President of Albania, Mr. Meidani, for her contribution, and during the performance of some songs she was accompanied by the President’s wife herself. She was also an active member of the Organization of Albanian Women in America “Qiriazi Sisters”. Anita saw participation in various community and charity concerts as a continuation of her artistic path. In this way, he dedicated his talent and wonderful voice entirely to the Albanian cause…… 
THE MAIN STAGES IN HER CAREER
Anita’s realization of the first album with the song “Malli” in 1999 and the respect shown by the Albanian Mission in New York, promoting this album in its premises. April 5, 1999 brought Anita’s appearance on the Broadway stage, not only as a singer but also as a violinist in the concert organized by the “Madre” Organization, well known in America. August 12, 1999, Anita revealed the extraordinary values of beautiful Albanian music in front of all ambassadors of the world, in the evening organized by the Albanian Mission to the United Nations. December 1999 brought Anita winning the contest held by the American company CPV to sing two songs on their television programs.
The summer of 2000 was accompanied by her recital concerts with the well-known actor and director Koço Devole in many states of America. November 12, 2000 brings the presentation of Anita as a singer and violinist, in the big concert in New York, together with Ivna Mula, Piro Çakon and Silvana Braçen. November 26, 2000, on the 9th anniversary of “Illyria” newspaper, Anita made this concert more attractive, combining her magical voice with playing the violin. The year 2001 began with another success in Anita’s artistic life, she was invited to present Albanian music in a joint American-Albanian-Turkish concert, where the artistic values of these 3 countries were revealed.
In this concert, she is presented with one of the famous composers in America, Tina Shaffer (composer of Sellin Dion, Dona Sammer, Betty Midler, etc.). Tina appreciated Anita’s voice as “an angelic voice that descends from heaven”. The year 2002 was a year of intensive work for Anita as she was working and opening a new path in the art of the Albanian Diaspora. She was weaving our beautiful Albanian music with American Pop. January 24, 2003 began with Anita’s participation in one of the biggest concerts of the Albanian community, where she presents light Albanian music alongside Kosovar and Macedonian singers. The years 2003-2004 were extremely important years for Anita’s artistic growth. During this period, she revealed the values of Albanian art and music on the borders of America. The year 2004 marked the release of the album “Everything is possible” for Anita.
In this album you will find all the fruit of experience and artistic maturity of this great artist. In this album, Anita appears as a singer. Why not, she had a complete concept of music, which she not only felt, but also completely mastered. He was a genius on the violin and talented on the piano, while he knew solfeggio to perfection. But all these successes in Anita’s artistic life would not have been possible without the support and respect shown by the beloved Albanian public, whom she adored and gave her happy moments with her magical voice. The birth of Sibora also played an important and decisive role in this regard. The birth of a daughter was one of the greatest gifts that God gave her. The little angel Anita surrounded her with indescribable love and care. She raised her with respect for Albania and the Albanian language, took special care of her school performance, was a perfect mother and a good educator.
God added to the pleasure with the mother’s arrival in America, because Hazbija was not only very close to Anita, but was also an incentive in her artistic life, sacrificing everything in order to leave room for the girl’s artistic creativity and her beloved singer. Anita has been for the entire Bitri family, the honor and pride of this family. During her artistic career, Anita has been honored with many awards and diplomas in various national and international activities. These won awards best show her outstanding skills in the field of performing arts, as well as the great respect and appreciation given to her by the various juries, her colleagues and collaborators and especially the general public, who will I always remember Anita as a perfect model of dignified interpretation of our music.
And here comes gloomy October… date 19 – 2004. Anita Bitri died in a tragic accident in Staten Island, New York, where she was suffocated in her home by gas (carbon monoxide), together with her daughter, Sibora, 7 years old, and her 60-year-old mother. With the departure of Anita Bitri, art and the Albanian public lost a wonderful voice, Albania an ardent patriot, the diaspora an activist and musical personality, family and friends, a wonderful artist and friend.
Previously published on the Facebook page “Albanian Cinematography” https://www.facebook.com/ksh.faqjazyrtare/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2793887870671063
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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
Reference: “Today World” on line. 2017
Photos are a contribution of administrators and “photo courtesy of google”.
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