Maria Teresa Garrigosa: a voice for the forgotten
The soprano Maria Teresa Garrigosa, born in Barcelona in 1961, has dedicated her life to music, combining live performances with teaching at the Vila-seca Conservatory. Her passion for musical research led her to write a doctoral dissertation on 19th -century Catalan composers, a work that has revealed so far unknown heritage.
A surprising discovery
Her adventure as a researcher began unexpectedly in 1998, when, in her search for repertoires for her students, she stumbled upon a work signed by ‘Hensel’. This piece was revealed as a creation by Fanny Mendelssohn, the sister of the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn, a fact that surprised Garrigosa and turned on to his curiosity for female music.
A revealing concert
In 2005, Garrigosa presented a concert dedicated to German composers, where he received a council of the Master Gargallo on a cycle of songs by Isabel Güell, a figure unknown in the Catalan music scene. This revelation led her to interpret her works, discovering that women had also left a mark on the music of the modernist age.
The challenge of research
Garrigosa began his research with difficulty, as he initially found only men’s works. However, with patience and dedication, it managed to access archives and libraries, such as the Library of the Conservatory of Barcelona and the Library of Catalonia, where it was able to collect valuable information on the composers of its country.
A heritage to discover
Despite the advances, Garrigosa acknowledges that there is much to be done in the dissemination of this heritage. In 2008, he presented a project with unpublished works by women composers in Llorenç Balsach, who responded enthusiastically, resulting in the recording of songs from various Catalan composers. This effort culminated in a second album in 2014, thus expanding its musical legacy.
Investigation in Archives
Recently, Garrigosa has made research in the Archive of Vilafranca, where he has found works by the Lara sisters and other composers. With the intention of continuing his research after his retirement, his aim is to catalog the Catalan composers until the Civil War, thus preserving their legacy.
A surprising number
He has currently identified about a hundred Catalan composers born between 1810 and 1901.These figures, often forgotten, significantly contributed to the music scene, showing that music was an integral part of their lives and interests.
A conference to claim
On Saturday, Garrigosa will present a conference entitled ‘The Catalan composers of the 19th and 20th centuries’ within the framework of the cycle ‘A L’Agrícola we talk about music’. At the event, he will share the works of various composers and the reasons that have motivated him to recover this musical heritage, which is part of the rich history of Catalan music.
A música Ended dialg the poetry
With this event, Garrigosa hopes not only to present the composers that have been in oblivion, but also to establish a dialogue between music and poetry, emphasizing the importance of these female voices in the cultural history of Catalonia.
Through her dedication and passion, Maria Teresa Garrigosa reminds us that music is not only an art, but also a way of recovering and celebrating the legacy of women who have contributed to their development throughout history.
