Mentor Xhemali (1924-1992)
Lyric singer. “People’s Artist”!
Born in Permet on May 12, 1924. Well-known singer with a resounding baritone voice. Identification in the genre of music is light, classical and popular music. Singing in both opera and folk remains a unique case for the values he created in these two musical genres.
Mentor fell in contact with the song as a child, raised in a family with love and interpretation of popular music. From a young age, to meet economic needs, he worked as a worker in the port of Saranda and later in Durres. In 1943, he joined the partisan army for the liberation of Albania.
Mentori became active in the musical formations of the partisan army and then with the creation of the Army Ensemble by Gaq Avrazi, he became part of this ensemble as a choir and later became a soloist in the State Philharmonic.
After his release in the period 1952-1955, he was sent to study
canto-bass at the “Cajkovski” conservatory in Moscow. After finishing his studies, started working as a soloist at the Opera and Ballet Theater in Tirana.
At this time, Mentor has an excellent career. The masterful interpretation of the roles assigned to him in this institution earned him the high title “People’s Artist” in 1975 and two years later, in 1977, he retired.
Among his interpretations we can mention: “Per ty atdhe”, a hymn, a symbol in Albanian music, C. Zadese’s romance “O ju male”, Don Basilio’s aria from “The Barber of Seville” by Xh. Rosini.
Other interpretations: “Iolanta”; “Eugene Onegin” by Tchaikovsky; “Aleko” by Rachmaninoff; “Mrika” by P. Jakove, etc.
Xhemali took part in a series of concerts inside and outside the country, such as in China, Poland, Austria, Finland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Cuba, standing out as an outstanding Albanian bass and even winning several international awards in Warsaw, Moscow, Vienna and Helsinki.
The interpretation he made of some well-known arias remain excellent models of his vocals. Such were the arias: “Simon Boca negro” by Fiesco; of Silvio from “Emani” to Xh. Verdi, as well as Gjini’s aria from the opera “Mrika”.
The last years of his career were devoted to the interpretation of popular songs by enhancing their artistic value. For the first time, he recorded popular Permet songs during the shooting of the film “General gramophone” (February 1979) together with another Permet singer Ylli Zeqiri.
In 1977, the songs: “I took the road for Janine” were added to his repertoire; “Zura nje bilbil me vese”.
After this period, Mentor Xhemali cooperates with master Laver Bariu, where he managed to record about 30 songs on Radio-Tirana. He continues his collaboration with the masters of popular music such as Lela and then Cobani, giving our culture some other pearls sung by him in these musical formations.
Mentori even recorded a CD in France in 1992 near the “Indigo” studio with Lelaj’s music!
The artist received the Republic Award of the first degree, as well as the “Honorary Citizen” of Permet in 2001.
Passed away on April 9, 1992. In his honor, the promenade in Permet is named Mentor Xhemali.
Published on April 8, 2021
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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
Information according to the Archive of Albanian Iso polyphony.
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