Biography

Origins

Acclaimed by the press for her rich timbre and expressive artistry, soprano Alketa CELA has performed some of the most prestigious roles in the operatic repertoire on European stages. For her, expressiveness, vocal line, and emotion are inseparable elements of her artistry.

The Lyon’s National Opéra and Teatro La Fenice were the first major opera houses where Alketa Cela performed at the beginning of her career. However, her talent was first discovered in her native Albania, an unusual achievement in the country’s operatic scene.

Born in Albania, she was not yet eighteen when she won a competition singing La Traviata, a moment that proved decisive in her decision to pursue opera studies. She trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tirana under Professor S. Frasheri, a former student of the prestigious Santa Cecilia Academy in Rome. Graduating with honours, she went on to win the international competition organized by renowned Italian soprano Katia Ricciarelli, enabling her to continue her studies in Italy.

The beginnings

 

Throughout her career, Alketa CELA has won numerous prizes in international competitions, including the Toti Dal Monte International Competition, the Rosetum G. Puccini Competition in Milan, Voce Promessa the G. Lauri Volpi International Lyric Competition for the reconstruction of Teatro La Fenice, First Prize at the European Opera Competition in Macon France, First Prize and Audience Prize at the Gascogne International Competition (France).

When she played Mimi in La Bohème at the Opéra National de Nancy, Alketa Cela deeply moved the audience and caught the attention of the press. Le Monde praised her radiant high notes, leading to engagements in major roles such as Tosca, Liu, Donna Anna, Iphigénie in Tauride, Micaëla, Valentine, and Mimi in other renowned opera houses.

Alketa CELA achieved great success in the title role of Madama Butterfly at the National Opera of Bordeaux, a role she continues to perform internationally with passion. Her repertoire spans composers such as Mozart, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, Tchaikovsky, and Strauss. She enjoys discovering new roles and has performed in numerous concerts and recitals.

Carreer

 

Alketa CELA launched her European career in France, beginning in Lyon, where Jean-Pierre Brossmann, then director of Lyon’s National Opera, invited her to join the company of soloists. During her tenure, she performed key roles, including:

  • Pamina – Die Zauberflöte – W.A. Mozart
  • Susanna – Le Nozze di Figaro – W.A. Mozart
  • La Princesse – L’enfant et les sortilèges – M. Ravel
  • Chiarella – L’Osteria di Marechiaro – G. Paisiello
  • Messe en Ut – W. A. Mozart – dir. Sir Neville Marriner
  • Various recitals, including one of the Italian melodies, were broadcast on France Musique.

Her career continued to flourish with performances at major European opera houses, working under esteemed conductors such as:
Peter Maag, Louis Langrée, Kazushi Ono, Claire Gibault, Giuseppe Grazioli, François-Xavier Roth, Noorman Widjaja, Cyril Diederich, Andriy Yurkevych, Philippe Bernold.
She has collaborated with renowned stage directors, including:
Yannis Kokkos, Jean-Louis Grinda, Laurence Dale, Jean-Claude Berutti, Andreas Homoki, Laurent Pelly, Alain Garichot, Numa Sadoul, Mariusz Treliński…

International competitions and engagements:

Prizes at international competitions:

1993: Prize in the singing competition of the famous soprano Katia Ricciarelli, Italy
1994: Prize at the Toti Dal Monte International Competition and her 1st stage role, Pamina in the Magic Flute in Italy.
1995: Voce Promessa Prize at the G. Lauri Volpi International Competition and the Rosetum G. Puccini Competition in Milan.
1995-1999: 3rd Prize at the competition organized for the reconstruction of the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Italy. 1st Prize and Audience Prize at the Gascogne International

List of engagements by year

1996-2000 – Member of the soloist troupe at the National Opéra of Lyon, singing the roles of; Pamina, Susanna, The Princess, Chiarella, Rosina, Mozart’s Mass in C, and a recital recorded for France Musique with Italian melodies, Amour…

Other opera houses:

1998 : Aurora for the Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Italy
2000 : Donna Anna Opéra de Rennes, France.
2001 : Fiordiligi Opéra d’Avignon, France.
2002 : Mimi La Boheme Opéra national de Nancy, France.
2002 : Gita Una cosa rara Teatro, La Fenice de Venise, Italy.
2003 : Mimi La Boheme Opéra national de Metz, France
2003 : Massenet’s Manon Opéra de Tours, France.
2003 : Donna Anna Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, Belgium.
2004 : Liu Opéra national de Bordeaux and Opéra national de Montpellier, France.
2004 : Liu Opéra national de Bordeaux and Opéra national de Montpellier, France.
2004 : Valentine, Les Huguenots, Théâtre Opéra de Metz, France.
2005 : Fourth Maid, Elektra by Strauss, Opéra National de Bordeaux, France.
2005: Nedda Opéra Royal de Wallonie Liege Belgium.
2005 : Tosca Opéra Théâtre de Saint Etienne.
2005 : Iphigénie en Tauride Opéra national de Nancy and Théâtre de Caen.
2006 : W. A. Mozart concert arias for the ‘Saoû chante Mozart’ festival.
2007 : Violetta Valéry La Traviata concert version in Lyon.
2007 : Requiem by G.Verdi and W.A.Mozart at the Théâtre Mogador in Paris.
2008 : Recital in Lyon of The Four Last Lieder by R. Strauss.
2009 : Recital of opera arias in Lyon
2009 : Iphigénie in Tauride Glück at Komische-Oper Berlin Germany.
2010 : Iphigénie in Tauride Bielefeld Opera Germany
2010 : Iphigénie en Tauride Hamburg Staatsoper Germany.
2011 : Micaëla Carmen at the Opéra national de Bordeaux.
2012 : Madama Butterfly at the Opéra national de Bordeaux.
2012 : Madama Butterfly at Warsaw National Opera, Teatr Wielki, Poland
2014 : Gala, Tirana National Opera, Albania
2014 : Madama Butterfly at Warsaw National Opera Teatr Wielki, Poland.

2015: Madama Butterfly at Warsaw National Opera Teatr Wielki – Poland
2016 : Recital Lyon Airs d’opéra.
2016 : Concert Airs d’opéra with the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Croatia.
2017 : Violetta Valéry, La Traviata at the National Opera of Warsaw Teatr Wielki, Poland.
2017 : Concert as part of the Italian National Day at Lyon City Hall.
2017 : Concert as part of the Italian National Day at Lyon City Hall.
2018 : Concert as part of the Italian National Day at Lyon City Hall.
2018 : Concert opera arias Lyon May and October.
2019 : Concert opera arias Lyon May and October.

2019-2021 : Various cancellations due to the global health crisis.

2022 – Concert at the Amphitheatre of the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, France
2023 – G. Verdi Requiem, Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, Croatia.
2024 – Concert in the Salle G. Mahler of the Music Library ‘La Grange-Fleuret’ in Paris.
2024 – Concert in Paris ‘Les Nocturnes de Laude’.