22–24 December 1972
The 11th Radio Television Song Festival was held at the Tirana Opera and Ballet Theater. The presenters of this edition were Edi Luarasi and Bujar Kapexhiu. This festival remains one of the most talked-about events in the history of Albanian light music, due to the “tainting” of the time and the system. At the time, this festival was considered a dissident show and was condemned by the senior leadership. It was described as a festival “with decadent imitations”, “foreign attire and performances”, which abandoned significant themes but instead was influenced by what were considered less important themes (according to the system of the time) such as: love, cafes, girls, etc. Tonin Tërshana, with the song “Kur vjen pranvera” (“When Spring Comes”) composed by Pjetër Gaci, with lyrics by poet Fatos Arapi, was declared the winner of this festival. (In the photo: Tonin Tërshana singing, 1972.)
Text: https://festivali.rtsh.al/historiku/fituesit/fest-11
Photo: © Albanian Radio Television
Graphic processing: AHCF
