Mentor Xhemali

Mentor Xhemali was an Albanian singer and composer who was born in Përmet in 1926. He studied canto at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow and graduated in 1957. He then joined the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania, where he performed in many classical operas such as Cavalleria rusticana, Madama Butterfly, and Rigoletto. He also sang in Albanian operas such as The girl from Kaçanik, Borana, The sold bride, Mrika, Spring, The Memory Flower, The Wake-Up, and others. He was known for his expressive voice and his interpretation of various genres, such as folk, pop, rock, and opera. He also acted in several movies and TV shows, such as "Një jetë më shumë" (One more life), "Një breshkë në det" (A turtle in the sea), and "Familja moderne" (Modern family). He wrote the awarded play "Bashkëshortët" and performed in many other plays, such as "Zonja me Kamelie", "Erveheja", "Anmiku i popullit", and "Ambrozio shfaros kohën". He created and sang many popular songs in the 1960s, such as "Kaçurrelja", "Shokut", "Lamtumirë", "Mine", and "Tetori". He received many awards, medals, and titles for his activity, such as the Second Prize in the Festival of Youth in Bucharest in 1953, the Festival of Vienna in 1958, Merited Artist of Albania in 1951, and People's Artist of Albania in 1985. He was the father of two musicians, Adelina and Inva Mula. He died of unknown causes in 1992 in Prishtina, where a street bears his name today in his memory.