Tenor Rame Lahaj stands out as the leading figure among his contemporaries. Hailing from Kosovo, he embarked on his artistic path at the tender age of 21, propelling himself toward a career that swiftly ascended to the global spotlight. He was the only Kosovar tenor before and after the war who stood out for his unique timbre, personality, and talent. Throughout his remarkable journey, it is noteworthy to highlight several significant accomplishments that not only serve as a testament to the talent of tenor Lahaj but also provide inspiration for the new generation.
The winner of the “Operalia” competition in 2016, directed by opera legend Placido Domingo
subsequently graced the most prominent European and international stages with his extraordinary talent. Among those are: the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, National Opera of Paris, Bolshoi Theater Moscow, Arena di Verona, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Opera Los Angeles, Teatro Real-Madrid, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Staatsoper Berlin, Haus Für Mozart-Salzburg, Opera Australia Sydney, Royal Albert Hall, Semperoper Dresden, Opera Tel Aviv, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Teatro Petruzzelli, La Monnaie de Munt, Staatsoper Hamburg, Polish National Opera, Hungarian State Opera, Opera House in Oslo, the Finnish National Opera and others.
Mr. Lahaj received the Medal from the President of the Republic of Kosovo in recognition of his efforts in promoting Kosovo’s presence in the international opera scene, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Independence. Additionally, the Prime Minister of Kosovo bestowed upon him the title of “Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu” and appointed him as the “Global Cultural Ambassador of Kosovo to the World.”
Besides his solo career, Mr. Lahaj always aims to nurture new talent, a motive that led him to organize the first Opera Festival in the region, the Rame Lahaj International Opera Festival, the first edition of which was held in 2021, with the intention of becoming a tradition of opera culture in the country and the region. In the continuation of promoting opera culture, supporting young talents, and above all, transmitting the echo of Kosovo throughout the international arena, Tenor Lahaj established the Rame Lahaj Foundation.