At the Queen Teuta Quartet’s “Sounds of Albania” concert at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, new artistic dimensions of the Albanian musical repertoire were recreated. The artistic heart of the concert lay in the masterful arrangement and superior performance of the program. The orchestration of the pieces by Director Edi Ellie Xhani preserves the melodic identity, emotional power, and collective memory of the song, while placing it within a new musical structure. Familiar melodies ranging from the serenades of Korça to the mosaic of Kosovo, Central Albania, and the Arbëresh collection acquire new nuances, spaces, and expressive possibilities.
When within a medley, for instance, there is a transition from “Tundu moj Bejkë e Bardhë, Tundu” to “Në një arë, në një lëndinë” and so on, these traditional creations are recreated through harmony, rhythm, counterpoint, and instrumental interaction. A talent like artist Edi Xhani does not obscure the melody with technique, but rather reveals new features within it. The entire evening created a melodic dialogue with both the Albanian and international audience as a living form of cultural diplomacy.
The uniqueness of the Queen Teuta Quartet also lies in the coexistence of two musical experiences. On one hand, there is the emotional and cultural connection to the Albanian repertoire; on the other hand, there is the demand for a performance built to the standards of the contemporary international stage by impressive musicians: Margret Radovani (Greta) – violin and vocals, Megan Weeder Gould – violin and composition, Entela Barci – viola, Eleanor Holmes Norton – cello, Shane Shanahan – drums, Etnika Beqrama – flute, and Ismail Lumanovski – clarinet.
Albanians have gained extraordinary international visibility in music. Alongside well-known stars, the richness of our folkloric, traditional, and urban music deserves to take its rightful place. From this perspective, Sounds of Albania is a clear example that Albanian music, in its entirety, can be interpreted, arranged, and listened to within a new context. It can very well become part of the international repertoire—not as an exotic curiosity, but as artistic material with genuine melodic, harmonic, and expressive values.
In December 2025, the first Sounds of Albania quartet concert at the Kaufman Music Center was a project conceived and realized by Ilir Rizaj, an architectural photographer and an avid music lover. Last night, nine months later, Queen Teuta echoed strongly for the homeland through music, on behalf of a people who continue to tell their story through art.
Coming one day after the unfairly punitive decision from The Hague against the KLA leaders, “Sounds of Albania” takes on an even broader meaning. The concert voiced the memory, dignity, and collective identity of all Albanians.
#SoundsofAlbania #QueenTeutaQuartet #TribecaPerformingArtsCenter
For USALBTV: Rafaela Prifti
September 2026
