RAME LAHAJ was born and raised in Istog, Kosovo in a non-musical family. His hometown did not even have a single school of music. With great dedication, love and efforts to reach his big dream, he is now among those who have thrived in the international operatic arena.
For someone who pretends to excel in professional music, he did not seem to urge his interest in this field as he only began to show it at the age of 21. It was at that age, when the future Tenor first started his professional musical training.
His beginnings were not the greatest since his talent was not being acknowledged properly and encouraging comments were not present. But that did not stop the young creator’s passion for music, and his seriousness at work which a year later, in 2014 enabled him to attain the right of studying at the Academy of Arts in Tirana. He graduated as an honor student of 2008’s generation.
Interestingly, he obtained a job as an artistic director at the RTV 21 channel in Kosovo, where he worked in the period from 2009 to 2011, being inactive in music at the time.
Lahaj made his appearance in the international operatic scene with the role of Alfredo Germont in La Traviata in the 50th anniversary of Eutin Festival in Germany.
Coupled with his vocal quality was also his determination at work that pushed Lahaj further to appear at Hungarian State Opera in Budapest in the role of Macduff from Macbeth in 2011.
The German scene would also enable the tenor to make several appearances in his debut roles. The tenor came with another significant role for his repertory, the role of Rodolfo in La Boheme opera in Dortmund.
Lahaj’s performance agenda rapidly extended to international dimensions during 2012. He received an invitation to perform at the national Opera of Lyon in France as part of the Puritani opera production. On the same year, he performed the role of Rodolfo/La Boheme at the National Opera de Montpellier.
The outspoken success of the tenor in Italy took over after he performed the role of Duca di Mantova/Rigoletto at Teatro Massimo di Palermo.
The season of 2013/14 proved to be quite rewarding for the artist, placing him into prestigious houses, such as Semperoper Dresen as Duca di Mantova/Rigoletto, Alfredo/La Traviatta and Rodolfo/La Boheme.
Lahaj’s appearance in the United Kingdom’s most prominent stage, The Royal Albert Hall, during the season of 2014/15 with the role of Rodolfo/La Boheme was an absolute success. The tenor appeared in famous media like BBC channel and lots of others.
His career was continually cementing as Lahaj kept performing in European opera houses during the season of 2014/15. He made several appearances with the role of Duca di Mantova/Rigoletto in La Monnaie Opera of Brussels and in Haus fur Mozart in Salzburg. In his agenda was also Warsaw National Opera with his two favorite roles of the time, Duca di Mantova/Rigolettoand Alfredo Germont/La traviata.
Pinkerton/Madama Butterfly was one of the most dramatic debuts of the artist, performed at Gran Teatro Giaccomo Puccini in Torre Del Lago in Italy. A Season later, he received an invitation to perform the same role at Opera Las Palmas in Spain.
Lahaj stretched his fame intercontinentally during 2015. A fame which led him to climb the iconic scene of Sydney Opera House in Australia, where he made an outstanding performance and had the public astonished with the role of AlfedoGermont/La Traviata.
The year of 2016 brought Lahaj the most sought after title. In the world’s largest operatic contest ‘Placido Domingo‘s ”Operalia”, which was held in Mexico, Lahaj was awarded with the same title of a lyric singer. This price makes Lahaj a worldwide recognized tenor of great class. This season also marked his house debut as Edgardo/Lucia di Lammermoor at Paris National Opera, where he will also sing Alfredo/La Traviata with Placid Domingo and Marina Rebeka and L’Elisir d’amore in future.
Upcoming projects in 2017/18 include the title role of Faust in Tel Aviv (role and house debut), Duca/Rigoletto at Savonlinna Opera Festival, Finnish National Opera in Helsinki and Teatro Municipale di Salerno with Daniel Oren, Concert Tour of South Korea with Angela Gheorghiu, house debut at the Bolshoi in Moscow with Alfredo/La Traviata conducted by Togan Sokhiev, Alfredo/La Travita at Opera national de Paris, Duca/Rigoletto at Malmo Opera, Rodolfo/La bohème at Bolshoi Theatre Moscow, Pinkerton/Madama butterfly at the Liceu in Barcelona.