Born: 24 September 1911, Croatia
Died: 21 November 1999
Country most active: Albania
Also known as: Marie Paluca
Marie Kraja was an Albanian opera singer, who is particularly known for her performances of Albanian folk songs.
When Marie was six, her family moved from Zadar to Shkodra and she learnt local wedding and love songs. In 1930 she enrolled at the Singschule (now University of Music and Performing Arts Graz), completing her vocal studies in 1934. After graduation Marie taught at a secondary school in Shkodra, then at the Queen Mother Women’s Institute in Tirana. She began making appearances in Tirana and represented Albania at an “Evening of Nations” in Vienna.
Kraja’s singing was unusual, because she had a German precision to the phrasing of the lyrics she sang. She began singing traditional Albanian urban lyric songs, demonstrating how a professionally trained singer could perform them. She worked with arranger and pianist Lola Gjoka, and together they recorded more than 300 songs – recordings which survive today
In 1937 she gave a recital in Bari, Italy, followed by concerts in Munich, Germany in 1938 and a 1939 recital in Florence, Italy.
After World War II, Kraja taught at the Jordan Misja Academy, as well as singing in the opera. In 1959 she appeared in the first Albanian opera, Mrika.
Kraja was awarded Albania’s highest recognition for artists, the title of People’s Artist of Albania