EL FESTIVAL

From 23 July to 2 August 2025, the fourth edition of Proto-fest – Festival de Música de Tortosa is to fill buildings and spaces in the capital city of Les Terres de l’Ebre with instrument, symphony, vocal and chamber concerts, as well as with theatre, conferences and performance masterclasses by nationally and internationally renowned artists. We will soon be announcing the details of the entire programme.


The festival was created to offer a sample of music styles, renowned artists and rising stars, in small and medium-format performances. Since the very first edition, we have also sought to highlight forgotten musical styles and the recovery of the historical-musical heritage through the discovery and performance of unprecedented works, particularly by authors from the crossroads area between Catalonia, the Autonomous Region of Valencia, and Aragon

This has turned Proto-fest into a benchmark with innovative and unique proposals. We live music at Proto-fest – Festival de Música de Tortosa and we want the festival to make you rock. We want everyone present to enjoy the pleasure of share music.

About us

The festival is organised by Associació Festival de Música de Tortosa, a non-profit association headed by soprano Cecília Aymí and violist David Matheu, co-directors of the festival, with the support of several public institutions and private entities.


Cecília Aymí López

Co-director


Cecília Aymí is daughter of the composer, professor and organist Rossend Aymí Escolà. She studied at the Professional Conservatory of Music of Tarragona, where she specialised in voice, with mezzo-soprano Mercè Obiol and piano accompanist Alan Branch. Later on, she was awarded an advanced degree in singing from the Higher Conservatory of Music of El Liceu in Barcelona, under the prowess of Enriqueta Tarrés. Once she had completed her advanced studies, she received a grant from the private foundation Duran Martí to expand her vocal training in Munich (Germany).

Throughout her career, she has sung in prestigious theatres and concert halls such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona, the Palau de la Música, l’Auditori de Barcelona, the Teatre Fortuny in Reus, the Faràndula in Sabadell, the Wiener Saal and the Schloss Mirabell in Salzburg. In 2022, she was awarded a Master’s degree in the Performance of Early Music from ESMUC. She is the founder of ARTS – Tortosa School of Performing Arts, and currently teaches singing and choir singing at the School and Conservatory of Music of the Provincial Government of Tarragona in Tortosa, and at ARTS..


David Matheu i Haskell-Bell

Co-director

David Matheu i Haskell-Bell began his musical studies at Tortosa Conservatory, where he was introduced to the violin in Joan Carles Bonfill’s classroom.

He also soon took an interest in the viola, which led him to combine his studies of both instruments: at an advanced level in violin with Evelio Tieles, and at post-graduate level in viola with Rivka Golani.

His musical interests cover several areas, including orchestra, chamber music, solo repertoire, teaching and musicological research, among others.

He is a founder member of Orquestra de Cambra de Tortosa (OCTO) and of Orquestra Simfònica de les Terres de l’Ebre (OSTE). He teaches viola and violin at the School and Conservatory of Music of the Provincial Government of Tarragona in Tortosa.


The team

The festival is possible thanks to an entire team of volunteers and professionals whose work, enthusiasm, friendship and creativity make the essence of Proto-fest a unique experience, a success, and a benchmark in both the city and the region.
Direction, art direction and production: Cecília Aymí and David Matheu
Art direction Esquerdes: Mireia Andreu and Jaume Martínez
Press, communication and social media: Oriol Gracià, Esther Benet (Bluverd)
Technical production: Oversound & Lighting
Graphic design and programming: Núria Matheu (Lupa)
Audiovisual: A Prop Ebre
Photography: Oriol Gracià

Tortosa

What to do during my stay in Tortosa? 

Tortosa Turisme
www.tortosaturisme.cat

Rutes per Tortosa
terraenlla.com



VOICES FROM MEMORY

Voices from memory

CONCERT -
EXPERIENCE
[Parallel activity]

Tuesday 25 July,
4 performances:
6:00 p.m.; 6:30 p.m.; 7:00 p.m.; 7:30 p.m

Tortosa Air Raid Shelter
(Refugi antiaeri nº 4)

See location
Free entry
*You must reserve a place at one of the 4 performances

Coinciding with the 85th anniversary of the outbreak of the Battle of the Ebro, Proto-fest offers a musical experience at the Tortosa Air Raid Shelter No. 4, on the same date as the start of the conflict. A small-scale experience with a limited number of spectators in commemoration of the anniversary of this terrible event.


Historical clarinet and piano. Lorenzo Coppola and Cristina Esclapez

Closing concert
Historical clarinet and piano

LORENZO COPPOLA
AND CRISTINA ESCLAPEZ
CONCERT

Sunday 30 July,
at 20:00

Reials
Col·legis
in Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5*
*Includes a wine tasting from Celler Mas de Manxol

Like all instruments, the clarinet has evolved through history and so has its sound. This concert with Lorenzo Coppola and Cristina Esclapez offers a wonderful opportunity to discover the historic clarinet alongside the piano.


CLARINET AND PIANO. STUDENTS MASTERCLASS

Clarinet and piano

LORENZO COPPOLA
MASTERCLASS STUDENTS
CONCERT

Sunday 30 July,
at 18:00

Reials
Col·legis
in Tortosa

See location
Free admission with advance reservation.

A clarinet and piano concert performed by the students of the Historic Clarinet masterclass at Proto-fest. We will be able to enjoy the work carried out during the masterclasses given by Lorenzo Coppola and the pianist Cristina Esclapez.


XUP XUP. FAMILY CONCERT

Xup-Xup

FAMILY
SHOW

Saturday 29 July,
at 12:00

Felip Pedrell
Theatre-Auditorium ,
Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €3

XUP-XUP started out from the idea of three chefs preparing a meal with few ingredients: the poetry of the objects accompanied by live music brings to life each one of the elements participating in the creation of a dish of spaghetti.

A show which encourages playing and uses everyday elements to create a dish full of surprises. A children’s show with live music ideal for children from 0 to 5 years old.

XUP-XUP presentation video


CHAMBER MUSIC. PIANO QUINTET

Piano Quintet concert
Chamber music

Cristina Morell and Adrián Morena, violins
Rivka Golani, viola
Ludovico Colombo, cello
Zsuzsa Kollár, piano
Other performers

Saturday 29 July,
at 20:00

Sala ARTS,
Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5

The Piano Quintet by Shostakovich is one of the most emblematic Chamber music pieces of the twentieth century. An excellent opportunity to hear this composition played here by a great group of musicians based in the United Kingdom.


MUSIC FROM AROUND THE WORLD. ETHNO CATALONIA

Music from
around the world

ETHNO
CATALONIA
CONCERT

Friday 28 July
at 21.00

Jardins del Prínce,
statue park
in Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5

Ethno Catalonia is a project run by the Joventuts Musicals de Banyoles association. Every year they bring together between thirty and forty young musicians from around the world to share the traditional music from their home countries.

The youngsters participate in a residential course for ten days characterized by its open and horizontal organization and intercultural sensitivity. Each participant brings a traditional composition to show the rest of the group. This builds up a repertoire of folk music representing every continent, which the musicians rehearse and perform in public on a concert tour of Catalonia.

A unique opportunity to enjoy a wonderful musical journey through traditional music from around the world in a project based on the essential values of dialogue, tolerance and comprehension where music is a universal language capable of crossing any frontier.

*At the end of the concert there will be a food truck area.

Ya Henna (traditional Egyptian song), Ethno Catalonia 2016


Chamber music. Masterclass students

Chamber
music

Rivka Golani
Masterclass students
concert

Friday 28 July
at 18:00

Felip Pedrell
Theatre- Auditorium,
Tortosa

See location
Free admission with advance reservation.

Chamber music, viola and violin concert performed by students who have attended Rivka Golani’s masterclasses at Proto-fest. The perfect opportunity to see the work they have carried out. Accompanied by Inés Reguero on the piano.


PARTICIPATORY CONCERT. FELIP PEDRELL PREMIERE

Participatory Concert
Ramon Llull,
Visions de Randa

PREMIERE OF
FELIP PEDRELL.
FRANCESC VALLDECABRES
AND MIREIA ANDREU

Thursday 27 July
at 20:30

Felip Pedrell
Theatre-Auditorium,
Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5

Participatory Concert with singers and instrument players – students, amateurs and professionals – performing the result of the work carried out during the Proto~fest masterclasses.

They will perform Ramon Llull, visions de Randa, an unpublished work by Felip Pedrell which was recently recovered by David Matheu. It was one of the last large-scope compositions Pedrell wrote.

A world premiere led by the renowned conductor Francesc Valldecabres and stage director Mireia Andreu.


RENAISSANCE VOCAL POLYPHONY. QVINTA ESSENÇIA

Qvinta
Essençia

RENAISSANCE VOCAL
POLYPHONY
CONCERT

Tuesday 25 July
at 20:30

Reials
Col·legis
in Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5*
*Includes a wine tasting from Celler Mas de Manxol

The intimate connection between poetry and music in the Spanish Golden Age with a special focus on texts about love.

The performance includes poems by some of the most significant poets of that time such as Garcilaso de la Vega, Lope de Vega, Jorge de Montemayor and Joan Boscà. The musical pieces are from a variety of sources including important compilations like the Cancionero de Medinaceli and Recopilación de sonetos y villancicos a cuatro y a cinco voces by Juan Vázquez, among others such as the Calàbria and Casanatense song collections.

The sixteenth century was a period of splendour in both literature and music; a time when, despite the decisive Italian influence, Spanish poets and musicians maintained their own characteristics when writing, avoiding excessive affectation and sensuality and searching for seriousness and solemnity.

Hermosa Cathalina (Anònim) performed by Qvinta Essençia


RIVKA GOLANI, VIOLA & OCTO

Rivka Golani,
viola
& OCTO
Ricardo Forner,
conductor

CONCERT

Monday 24 July
at 19:00

Reials
Col·legis
in Tortosa

See location
Free admission with advance reservation
*Includes a wine tasting from Celler Mas de Manxol

Concert by the Tortosa Chamber Orchestra (OCTO) with the prestigious viola soloist Rivka Golani, conducted by Ricardo Forner.

The concert programme includes excellent pieces for orchestras with viola as well as works by past and present composers from the Terres de l’Ebre region all played in the spectacular setting of the Renaissance period Reials Col·legis (Royal Colleges) in Tortosa.


RENAISSANCE ORGAN. JOAN SEGUÍ

Renaissance organ
Music of the court
of Philip II

CONCERT
JOAN SEGUÍ

Sunday 23 July
at 18:00

Sala ARTS,
Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5

A concert of organ music by Joan Seguí, organist at the Santa Maria del Mar church in Barcelona. During the concert, Joan will play music from around the court of King Philip II of Spain during the 80 Years’ War -1568-1648-, showing the musical influences among the most significant composers from the two warring countries. 

A splendid concert, and an example of why we wish for a new organ for Tortosa Cathedral. Rossend Aymí, the last organist at the cathedral, will attend the concert and we will be able to share and exchange opinions with him afterwards.

N. de Grigny – Dialogue sur les Grands Jeux (Himne sur le Veni Creator) performed by Joan Seguí 


RENAISSANCE SINGING. STUDENTS MASTERCLASS

Renaissance Singing

PILAR MORAL
MASTERCLASS STUDENTS
CONCERT

Saturday 22 July
at 20:00

Sala Polvorí
Parador Hotel, Tortosa

See location
Free admission with advance reservation.

Concert of Renaissance period singing by the Historic Singing masterclass students from Proto-fest. The concert will be based on the work carried out during Pilar Moral’s masterclasses. Josep Mateu will play the harpsichord.


LA DOLÇA MELODIA. Música trobada and Cecília Aymí

La dolça melodia
Baroque music

MÚSICA TROBADA
AND CECÍLIA AYMÍ
CONCERT

Wednesday 19 July,
at 20:00

Reials
Col·legis
in Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5*
*Includes a wine tasting from Celler Mas de Manxol

La dolça melodia is a programme of music dedicated to the composer and chapel choir master Pasqual Fuentes Alcàsser. Studying the composer, his music and texts, gives us an insight into eighteenth-century Valencia, a reality not too different from the present day. It is the history of a city of contrasts, of remarkable stories and everyday ones, in which we can recognize ourselves and feel identified. Performed here by the Música Trobada group and the soprano Cecilia Aymi, La dolça melodia is an excellent example of his work.

The music of Pasqual Fuentes Alcàsser
Pasqual Fuentes’ compositions are surprising and captivating for a variety of reasons: the vast quantity of work he produced, the quality and use of a new musical language, the strong influence of the Italian style of music, his use of the Valencian language in some pieces, his elaborate vocal compositions, or the use of popular and traditional music. Furthermore, among the hundreds of pieces he wrote, we can find delightful gems such as the Missa per a la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats, from 1767.

Fuentes’ music can be found in many archives around the Spanish peninsula such as Cadiz Cathedral, the Escorial Monastery, Tarragona Cathedral, the National Library of Catalonia, Girona Cathedral, and the archives of Valencia.

Research carried out by Música Trobada has led to the recovery of about twenty of his compositions, many of which have been included in two recordings: lamentations and short popular pieces (villancets) in Valencian. The group has also performed his music at the Zarzuela Theatre in Madrid, and at festivals in Vélez Blanco, Peníscola and the Pyrenees.

Amor y bravura (Georg Friedrich Händel) performed by Música Trobada


Women composers around Felip Pedrell. Accent Ensemble and Teresa Garrigosa

Opening Concert
Women composers around Felip Pedrell

TALK - CONCERT
ACCENT ENSEMBLE
& TERESA GARRIGOSA

Tuesday 18 July
19:00 – talk
20:30 - concert

Reials
Col·legis
in Tortosa

See location
Tickets: €5*
*Includes a wine tasting from Celler Mas de Manxol

The quartet Accent>Ensemble was born thanks to the initiative of a group of musicians living and working in the Terres de l’Ebre region who are passionate about chamber music. Each member of the group has already enjoyed their own personal music career separately before forming this joint project. The objectives of the quartet include the research, sharing and enjoyment of chamber music from any period.

Among the varied musical interests they have taken a deeper look at, Accent>Ensemble are currently working on recovering the previously unpublished musical heritage of women composers who were disciples of the composer Felip Pedrell -1841-1922-. They have recovered compositions by Ll. Casagemas, Ll. Bosch, N. Freixes and A. Armengol. For this concert, Accent>Ensemble will perform with an invited artist, the renowned soprano Teresa Garrigosa, who is leading the research into women composers from our region.

Teresa Garrigosa will also give the talk Women Composers, which will take place before the concert.

 

Lluïsa Casagemas, Spain’s first women composer -TV3 News-
Premier of A la clara nit by Felip Pedrell -Accent Ensemble-