Marie Kraja (Paluca), coloratura lyric soprano, People’s Artist, was born in Zadar (Dalmaci). She attended the high school of music in Vienna and completed her advanced studies in singing at the Graz Conservatory (1929–1934). She worked as a teacher at the “Donika Kastrioti” high school in Shkodër and at the “Nana Mbretneshë“ (“Queen Mother”) Women’s Institute. Conducted concert activities in the main cities of the country. Performed well-known parts of the classical repertoire and many popular songs. After the liberation, she taught at the “Jordan Misja” Artistic High School and worked at the Opera and Ballet Theater, where she performed a series of main operatic roles of the traditional foreign and Albanian repertoire. Performer in the first two Albanian operas “Mrika” (Prenk Jakova) and “Lulja e kujtimit“ (“The flower of remembrance”) (Kristo Kono). From 1963, she worked as a teacher and leader of the canto class at the State Conservatory of Tirana. Marie Kraja is one of the founders of the tradition of professional vocal interpretation. She performed a very rich musical repertoire, which includes all genres of professional vocal music, from chamber music to oratorical and stage music. She stood out for her individual performing qualities, especially for her handling of folk songs; she was characterized by a high technical and artistic level, through which she created new concert variants of songs and formed the tradition of a very faithful interpretation of folk songs, especially the Shkodra song. Marie Kraja has worthily represented Albanian art in a series of important scenes in the outside world. She was decorated with the “Grand Master of Work” order; received the Republic Award of the First Class. She passed away in Tirana, in 1999. Starting from 1999, the “Marie Kraja” international festival of operatic singers takes place in Tirana every year. (In the photo: Marie Kraja)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1334.
Graphic processing: AHCF
