Albania’s Festivali i Këngës — the festival that traditionally marks the start of the Eurovision national finals season — finally has some provisional dates. It will take place between December 17 and December 26, depending on conditions dictated by both the coronavirus pandemic and, in a huge twist, the weather. That’s because producers are going for an open-air location to help reduce the risk posed by coronavirus.
RTSH, the Albanian national broadcaster, communicated the new info in a first meeting with artists, composers and journalists. The director of the Festival, Martin Leka, revealed that, because of the pandemic, the festival will move to an outdoor location near Tirana’s Italia Square. That’s down to prevailing health advice — from the likes of the World Health Organisation — which says outdoor locations reduce the risk of transmission. Performers can have no more than seven people on stage (including the artist).
We do not yet know how the pandemic will unfold, but the weather is a bit more predictable. Tirana is a sunny capital with an average temperature between 3.2ºC and 13ºC in December.
Leka also announced key staff for this year’s festival. It will be directed by Pali Kuke, and presented by journalist Bledi Salaj and the famous Albanian actress and moderator Jonida Vokshi.
Last month, RTSH published the 26 competing artists, including familiar names like Orgesa Zaimi, Era Rusi, Mirud, and Inis Neziri.
This year, Festivali i Këngës will be a mix of returning artists such as Anxhela Peristeri, Manjolla Nallbani, Rosela Gjylbegu, Erik Lloshi and newcomers like Sardi Strugaj, Giglioala Haveriku, and Stefan Marena.
It has not been revealed whether producers will use RTSH’s orchestra or if there will be an actual audience.
Are you excited for an outdoor festival? Do you think that will impact acoustics and staging and costume? Let us know in the comments box below!
I’m albanian and I think we will easily win in 2021.
dont you wanna here the songs first haha?
I doubt anyone would stay out in the cold to watch it. At least this way it will be like a concert.
Hey I’m with you. Just trying to explain the broadcaster’s logic. They apparently want an audience.
I don’t understand why not hold in the arena, as in previous years only without an audience.
This will be interesting to watch. I can see some cons, but depending on the place, it may lead to beautiful shots. My only concern is that FiK has been a little prone to some technical difficulties, so I imagine the shows can take a little longer than predicted to start or finish.
People often joke about what if Albania or Moldova ever won where would they host it, in a field? Didn’t think Albania would take the teasing seriously!
I think the backyard thing for San Marino comes about not due to the wealth of the nation but due to how small it is.
But Albania and Moldova have organised several NF in good venues and would only need to upgrade them for hosting ESC
If I recal correctlly, some of the older Ukrainian and Russian national finals were held outdoors. I think those were around the 2013-2018 period for both countries.
In junior eurovision maybe. I don’t recall any outdoor ukrainian and russian nf’s in that period and russia has done only internal since 2013
Good move
But I dunno if there’s going to be any live orchestra this year.
Does anyone have an idea?