The artistic society “Lira” was established in Korça, which developed its activity mainly in music. There were two main formations: the choir and the orchestra, which included experienced instrumentalists and singers from the city’s previous artistic societies and lycée pedagogues, some of whom were French. From time to time, choir students, singers and instrumentalists, who attended high schools for music abroad, participated in its activities. The orchestra and the choir performed many concerts in Korça and several times in Tirana. Her formations performed many pieces from the works of world-renowned composers and Albanian folk songs. It continued its activity, with some interruptions, until 1934. In the activities of the “Lira” society, the following played a special role: the leader of the choir Sotir Kozmo, who was the inspiration and organizer of the entire artistic group; orchestra conductor Paskal Anibale; instrumentalists Luigj Filaj, Ilo Mosko, Vasillaq Ballauri, Nikolla Hançe, Isuf Ibrahimi; French high school teachers: François de Laur, R. Granier. The “Lira” society played an important role in the city’s music cultivation and in the preparation of several young singers and instrumentalists. (In the photo: Choir “Lira”)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, page 2505-2506.
Photo: © https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kori_%22Lira%22
Graphic processing: AHCF
