A Special Commemorative Festival
The Proto-fest, a well-known festival, will remember the beginning of the Battle of the Ebro through an exceptional concert of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem. This performance will take place on Wednesday 24 July under the title ‘Pols’, a proposal that fuses dance and music to expose the devastation caused by war conflicts. This event is part of the commemorative events organized by Tortosa City Council, which also includes a debate on historical memory.
Remembering a Key Date
At 10:30 p.m. that Wednesday, coinciding with the anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Ebro, we remember that it began during the night of July 24 to 25, 1938. On the stage of the Proto- fest will premiere ‘Pols’, which not only represents a concert, but will become a solemn commemoration in memory of the people affected by this battle.
A Reflection on Destruction
Mireia Andreu, the stage director of the show, describes the dust that rises with each explosion, becoming an omnipresent element that enters the ruins and settles on the improvised tombs. This dust is transformed into a symbol of suffering, representing lost dreams, interrupted lives and erased memories. The work is therefore a powerful metaphor for destruction and a constant reminder of the vulnerability of human existence.
A Concert Full of Feelings
The music of the concert will be performed by a string quintet accompanied by an organ, along with twenty singers. In addition, baritone Toni Fajardo and soprano Mariam Ouacif will be the soloists of the night. The musicians, directed by Francesc Valldecabres, will perform Fauré’s Requiem, one of the most beautiful and emotional works ever composed. This work, created in 1887, is full of spirituality and sweetness, and according to Fauré, it represents death as a moment of freedom and aspiration for postmortem happiness.
Combination of Art and Music
In addition to the music, the show incorporates elements of contemporary dance, with the participation of the dancer Marc Sans, while the costumes have been designed by José Andreu, thus providing a visual and artistic dimension to the message that is to be conveyed.
Debate on Historical Memory
In relation to the commemoration events, a round table entitled ‘Memory, landscape and pedagogy of the Battle of the Ebro’ will be held on Thursday 25 July. This activity will take place at 6.30 pm in the cloister of Casal Tortosí. The social anthropologist Maite Hernández will moderate the debate, which will have the participation of renowned experts such as Cinta Farnós, director of the Memorial Consortium of the Spaces of the Ebro Battle; Antònia Díaz-Carvajal, PhD in Archeology and Physical Anthropology; and Carme Maigí, coordinator of the working group of the Department of Education and the Democratic Memorial (DEMD-Ebre). In addition, there will be a musical performance by Albino Tena, adding a special touch to the event.