Reus Concert Association

The Associació de Concerts de Reus (Reus Concert Association) is a non-profit cultural association based in Reus, Catalonia, Spain, founded in 1921. Its stated purpose is to bring music closer to its members and to disseminate musical culture in the city. Since its early years it has used the Teatre Fortuny in Reus as its principal venue, under an agreement with the theatre's owning society, and it also has historical links to the Teatre Bartrina and the Centre de Lectura. The association was created by a group of Reus musicians and music enthusiasts who wanted to bring the leading musical figures of the day to their city. After drafting statutes in the summer of 1921, they organised their first concert season in December of that year at the Teatre Bartrina, opening with the celebrated trio of French pianist Alfred Cortot, violinist Jacques Thibaud and cellist Pau Casals. From January 1922 concerts moved to the Teatre Fortuny. The first board was led by Dr. Pere Barrufet as president, with pianist and composer Ricard Guinart, violinists J. Cogul and M. Grases, and cellist Víctor Tarragó. In April 1922 Arthur Rubinstein performed, and through 1934 monthly concerts alternated with opera cycles, taking advantage of the Fortuny's staging and acoustics. The association lay dormant during the Spanish Civil War and the early post-war period. In 1954 a group of music-loving friends led by Panagiotis G. Orfanidis reorganised it with new statutes and established its social headquarters at the Societat El Círcol, owner of the Teatre Fortuny. They reincorporated former members from before the war (Dr. Pere Barrufet became honorary president) and Orfanidis presided over the new stage, which opened with the Orquestra de la Ciutat de Barcelona conducted by Eduard Toldrà. The association has continued to present orchestras and musicians from around the world in Reus, and in 2015 it added its own orchestra. In 2022 it received the "El més amic de Reus" award from the Centre d'Amics de Reus in recognition of its long cultural trajectory and its work in disseminating musical culture. Today the Associació de Concerts de Reus remains active, publishing an annual concert calendar that includes chamber music, piano and violin recitals, orchestral concerts, opera and jazz, often in collaboration with ensembles such as the Orquestra Camerata XXI-Ciutat de Reus, the Quartet Telemann and the Kammart Ensemble. Its programme also features the Observatori Cultural Carme Just, a cultural observatory named after a prominent local figure, and events such as the New Year's Concert. The association operates as a membership-based society, with concerts held mainly at the Teatre Fortuny and other venues in Reus.

The Associació de Concerts de Reus was founded in 1921 by a group of musicians and music enthusiasts in Reus, Catalonia, who wanted to bring the leading musical figures of the moment to their city and to spread musical culture among their members. They met in the summer of 1921, drafted statutes that were quickly approved, and in December of that year organised their first concert season at the Teatre Bartrina, since a majority of the founders were members of the Centre de Lectura, the entity that owned that theatre. The opening concert featured the famous trio of French pianist Alfred Cortot, violinist Jacques Thibaud and cellist Pau Casals. Concerts were held monthly, and from January 1922 they moved to the Teatre Fortuny. The first board of the association consisted of Dr. Pere Barrufet as president, Ricard Guinart (piano teacher and composer), J. Cogul and M. Grases (violinists) and Víctor Tarragó (cellist). In April 1922 Arthur Rubinstein performed, and until 1934 monthly concerts alternated with opera cycles, as the Teatre Fortuny allowed for good stage productions and had excellent acoustics. The association lay dormant during the Spanish Civil War and the early post-war period. In 1954 a group of music-loving friends led by Panagiotis G. Orfanidis reorganised it with new statutes and agreed to establish its social headquarters at the Societat El Círcol, owner of the Teatre Fortuny. They brought all kinds of musical auditions to the city, from chamber music to choral societies. They reincorporated former members of the pre-war association (Dr. Pere Barrufet became honorary president) and Orfanidis presided over the new stage, which opened with the Orquestra de la Ciutat de Barcelona conducted by maestro Eduard Toldrà. The association has continued to bring orchestras and musicians from around the world to Reus. In 2015 it incorporated its own orchestra into the entity. In 2022 it received the "El més amic de Reus" award, granted annually by the Centre d'Amics de Reus, in recognition of its extensive cultural trajectory, highlighting its work in disseminating musical culture. Today it remains active, with a regular concert season at the Teatre Fortuny and other venues, featuring chamber music, orchestral concerts, opera, jazz and recitals.

• 2022

  Received the "El més amic de Reus" award from the Centre d'Amics de Reus.

• 2015

  Incorporated its own orchestra into the association.

• 1954

  Reorganised under Panagiotis G. Orfanidis with new statutes; social headquarters at Societat El Círcol; new stage opened with the Orquestra de la Ciutat de Barcelona conducted by Eduard Toldrà.

• 1934

  Monthly concerts alternated with opera cycles until this year.

• 1922

  Concerts moved to the Teatre Fortuny in January; Arthur Rubinstein performed in April.

• 1921

  Founded in Reus; first concert season held in December at the Teatre Bartrina, opening with the Cortot-Thibaud-Casals trio.

A historic, membership-based concert society bringing international classical music to Reus since 1921.

• Annual concert season

  A season of concerts held mainly at the Teatre Fortuny, featuring chamber music, orchestral concerts, opera, jazz and recitals.

• Cicle Xavier Blanc

  A concert cycle with the Orquestra Camerata XXI-Ciutat de Reus.

• Observatori Cultural Carme Just

  A cultural observatory programme within the association's activities.

• New Year's Concert

  An annual New Year's concert.

1. 1Associació de Concerts de Reus » Cartellera de concertsassociacioconcertsreus.cat
2. 2Associació de Concerts de Reuswikidata.org
3. 3Associació de Concerts (Reus)ca.wikipedia.org