Gjyzepina Kosturi (1912-1985) | Outstanding artist of our performing arts!

Gjyzepina Kosturi Merited artist "Soulful lady of Albanian opera", Dramatic soprano / Teacher at the Academy of Arts. She is one of the first Albanian opera singers, part of the Opera Theater, since its establishment, Kosturi became Tatiana, Violeta, Santuca, Knjagina, etc., but her most beloved role remained that of Cio-Cio San to "Madame Butterfly". Gjyzepina Kosturi (named after Giuseppe Verdi's wife, Giuseppina, whom the composer embodied in the character of Violeta Valeria in the opera "La Traviata"), was born on April 12, 1912 in Tivar, Montenegro, in an old family Shkodran. Her father's name was Gjokë Misloca, while her mother's name was Paolina Kodheli (Marubi). His mother was the sister of the famous Albanian photographer Kel Marubi (Kodheli). The Misloca family is an old family from Shkodra. Gjyzepina was the daughter of the Misloc family, the granddaughter of the patriotic and cultural Marubi family and a great artist who was never appreciated for the true vocal values she displayed. After secondary and higher studies at the "Santa Cicilias" Conservatory in Rome, Italy in 1937, he returned to his homeland like all other Albanian lyrical artists, even though there were no shortage of offers in Italy. Her name is associated with the establishment of the first musical institutions in the country. Later, opera soloist and teacher at the Academy of Arts. Newspapers of the time would constantly write about the figures built by the soprano, even though her name was constantly in question because of her family (her former merchant father, who often went to Italy). Rexhai Kosturi (1905-1968), was the husband of Gjyzepine, who married under civil status in Albania. An amateur painter with high moral virtues, he passed his passion for fine arts on to his sons. He came from the mentioned Kostur family of Korça. He was the translator of many opera texts that were put on the Albanian stage until the 60s. The fact that he was the brother of a well-known character during the Second World War, Drita Kosturi, who was later convicted by the system, made his family should not take their rightful place in the Albanian society. Gjyzepina was the only worker as her husband was unemployed while one of her two sons was imprisoned for agitation and propaganda. Gjyzepina takes part in the first staging of the opera Rusalka by Dargomizhski, in the role of the Princess, (1956), Kavaleria Rusticana, Santuza (1958), Eugene Onegin, Tatjana (1959), Madam Baterflaj, Co-Co-San ( 1961), which was also the peak of her operatic achievements, where she showed indisputable interpretative and musical values, with a high vocal technique, as an actress with a wide logical dimension of artistic and stage development, with a powerful dramatic inner which even to this day is unrepeatable in those lines that developed the role of Baterflaj, Kosturi. She is also unique in the vocal values she presented in those years. Although at an advanced age (over forty years old), she showed young artists how to use vocals and what you can benefit from it when you use it with culture and high taste. She had vocals of great dramatic dimension, with a brilliant vibe that was supported by a powerful and visceral feeling. She loved the popular song, among which she would rather sing constantly in her performances, such as: "Marshalla bukuris sate", "Gjylvatani", "Jar te du" and the song "Mori drandofillja e molja" are an example that shows that the artist also in this genre there were clear aims of a fine artistic analysis. She knew how to give original vocal value to these songs that were never recorded. The name of Gjyzepina Kosturi can also be found in the film archive. She performed in the movie "When it dawned on a day", in the role of the maid of the monastery in the episode "Mecua". After a long time since her death (1985), Kosturi's figure is a bit blurred for the younger ones. Unfortunately, time has not preserved much evidence of the first years of the foundation of the Philharmonic and then of the Opera. For her great pedagogical contribution, at the Artistic High School and later at the Tirana Conservatory and her valuable contribution to the field of operatic art at TOB, she has been honored with orders and prizes and holds the title of Meritorious Artist. Gjyzepina Kosturi left behind an honorable name that will always be remembered and honored from generation to generation. Her death in Tirana was also a tribute followed by hundreds of colleagues and artists, former students and lovers of operatic music, this also as a sign of thanks for what she gave to Albanian art! _______________ Albanian cinematography in activity since 2013 It was published in September 2014 on the page "Albanian cinematography on Facebook and was revised in the following years adding and completing the relevant information. The photos were taken from a video dedication to the great soprano, the official page in "Facebook"; the movie "When it dawned" as well as "google"

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