A week of German culture in Albania: from street festival to Bach and Blues

The German Cultural Week, held from October 3 to 8 across Albania, brought together a vibrant blend of music, art, film, and intercultural exchange, celebrating the creative spirit of Germany in dialogue with Albanian culture.

The week opened on October 3 with the Street Festival at Tirana’s New Bazaar, where visitors explored stands on German studies, scholarships, and cultural organizations, participated in quizzes, and enjoyed Bavarian folk music and traditional cuisine. Later that evening, the HÖR on Tour: Tirana event transformed the Tunnel Music Venue into a meeting point between German and Albanian DJs, reflecting Berlin’s underground energy through electronic music and inclusive urban culture.

On October 4, artist Alketa Ramaj presented her art book “The Red that Longs to Soften into Rose” at Luigj Gurakuqi University in Shkodër. Created during her residency at the Junge Akademie Berlin, the book explores the intertwining of gesture, body, and identity within creative transformation.

That same day, the capital hosted a lively program titled “On Lake, Wow Albania” at Tirana’s Artificial Lake Dam, featuring children’s animations of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and a piano performance by Erlis Kucana dedicated to Richard Wagner and German classical music. The evening continued with an electronic lineup including Pulcher, Malo b2b Vassò, and renowned DJ Anja Schneider.

Meanwhile, from October 4-5, HÖR on Tour: Tirana – Pop Up presented livestreams of Berlin’s iconic electronic music sessions, connecting Tirana’s scene to a global audience and positioning the city as an emerging hub of creativity and innovation.

The program continued on October 5 with the screening of the German comedy “Two to One”, directed by Natja Brunckhorst, at Millennium Cinema in Tirana. Based on true events, the film tells the story of three friends who discover forgotten GDR banknotes and embark on a comic adventure to exchange them, capturing a moment when everything seemed possible.

On October 6, Düsseldorf-based artist Stephan Kaluza delivered the lecture “Mechanisms of Creative Desire” at the University of Arts in Tirana. With over three decades of experience in the international art market, Kaluza discussed the relationship between artistic creation and its global economic context, from Basel to London and New York.

The highlight of the week came on October 7, when the National Theatre of Opera, Ballet, and Folk Ensemble hosted the concert “From Bach to Blues”, part of the 13th edition of the “Violinistic Greetings” festival. The recital featured renowned German violinist Caroline Adomeit and Albanian pianist Fatma Spahiu, who led the audience through a musical journey spanning from Johann Sebastian Bach and Maurice Ravel to contemporary arrangements, Kosturi’s works, and Albanian compositions for violin. Adomeit, followed by over 275,000 fans online and known for her “music without barriers” approach, delivered an expressive and modern performance. She also held a masterclass for violin students in collaboration with the University of Arts.

The closing event on October 8 took place at the “Petro Marko” Theatre in Vlorë with a crossover concert by saxophonist Ralf Benschu and pianist Elham Peyman, who presented an eclectic program ranging from meditative to high-energy pieces.

The Cultural Week also featured the short film “Experiences That Unite Us”, produced by students of the “Said Najdeni” school and screened at the Palace of Culture in Peshkopi. The film documents their summer camp in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany and explores themes of friendship, intercultural dialogue, environmental awareness, and media literacy.