What is Proto-fest?

Music is our life and we want the festival to delight us with a wonderful selection of renowned artists and promising newcomers. We are sure that everyone will love these artistic experiences and enjoy the pleasure of sharing music.

From 18 to 30 July 2023, Tortosa will host the third edition of Proto-fest. Tortosa Music Festival

Proto-fest will take over Tortosa and fill the streets, buildings and other wonderful parts of town with music. The festival offers a wide variety of instrumental, vocal, symphonic, chamber music and theatre music concerts alongside a series of talks and masterclasses given by nationally and internationally prestigious musicians.

The festival also aims to do justice to music forgotten in history, such as that written by women composers. The festival organizers are working to recover the historical-music heritage of the area through the discovery and performance of previously unpublished works from a range of different archives.

Proto-fest is an inspirational festival thanks to its innovative and attractive proposals. Performed in locations around town chosen to highlight the musical, architectural and cultural heritage of the area, the concerts are sure to delight all music fans.

About us

Proto-fest is organized by Associació Festival de Música de Tortosa, a non-profit body led by the soprano Cecília Aymí and the violist David Matheu, co-directors of the festival. The association and its members work hard to organize the festival together with the support of different public institutions and private bodies.

Cecília Aymí López

Co-director

Daughter of the composer, music teacher and organist Rossend Aymí Escolà, Cecília began her studies at the Professional Music Conservatory in Tarragona at a young age where she obtained her first qualification in music, specializing in singing, with the mezzosoprano Mercè Obiol and the repertoire pianist Alan Branch. She went on to obtain her degree in singing at the Liceu Higher Conservatory of Music in Barcelona with top grades where she was taught by Enriqueta Tarrés. Following on from her higher-level studies, she was awarded a grant by the private Duran Martí Foundation to continue studying singing in Munich, Germany.

Throughout her professional career, Cecilia has performed in many internationally renowned theatres and concert halls such as: the Liceu Theatre, Palau de la Música concert hall, and Auditorium in Barcelona; the Fortuny Theatre in Reus; the Faràndula Theatre in Sabadell; and the Wiener Saal concert hall and the Schloss Mirabell venue in Salzburg.

In 2022 Cecilia obtained her master’s degree in Performing Early Music at the ESMUC music school. She is also a founder of the ARTS Performing Arts School in Tortosa and is currently giving singing and choir lessons here at ARTS and also at the Tarragona Council Music School and Conservatory in Tortosa.

David Matheu i Haskell-Bell

Co-director

David Matheu i Haskell-Bell began his music studies at the Tortosa Music Conservatory where he took up the violin with classes with Joan Carles Bonfill.

Soon afterwards he also became interested in the viola and went on to combine both instruments: studying the violin to a higher level with Evelio Tieles and carrying out postgraduate viola studies with Rivka Golani.

David is interested in a wide range of musical areas, including orchestral music, chamber music, solo repertoires, pedagogy and music research among others.

He is a founding member of the Tortosa Chamber Orchestra (OCTO) and the Terres de l’Ebre Symphonic Orchestra (OSTE). He gives viola and violin classes at the Tarragona Council Music School and Conservatory in Tortosa.

Organization

The festival has been made possible thanks to a great team of volunteers and professionals who, with their hard work, enthusiasm, commitment, companionship and creativity, ensure the essence of Proto-fest is a unique artistic experience; a flagship festival for the town and surrounding area.

 

Direction, artistic direction, and production: Cecília Aymí and David Matheu
Production assistants: Josep Maria Balagué, Laura Folch, José Ricardo Forner, Inés Reguero, Rodolfo Löw, Maria López and Raül Martínez
Press and communication: Oriol Gracià, Esther Benet and Mercè Ferràs (Bluverd)
Technical production: Oversound & Lighting
Volunteer coordinator: Gina Sebastià
Graphic design and website: Jaume Martínez and Fuego Yámana
Audio-visual production: A prop Ebre and Insitu Music
Photography: Josep Maria Balagué (Balagué foto)

Tortosa

What can I do in Tortosa?

Tortosa Tourism
www.tortosaturisme.cat

Guided tours around Tortosa
terraenlla.com