Josep Bassal: melodies rooted in the earth

Cellist, researcher, and music history enthusiast Josep Bassal has dedicated much of his career to studying the role of the cello in Catalonia. Together with Jaime Tortella, he is the co-author of "History of the Cello in Catalonia," a seminal work that chronicles the lives and legacies of the country's great masters and performers, including the legendary Pau Casals, and provides previously unpublished documents that help us better understand how this instrument has become an essential voice of our culture.

At femturisme.cat we wanted to learn about his most personal perspective on Catalonia, the places that have marked him and those he still wants to discover, always with the common thread of a sensitivity attuned to the rhythm of the country.

A Catalonia that resonates with history, sea and mountains

What is your favorite spot in Catalonia?

The Castle of Torroella de Montgrí, in the Baix Empordà region, is a 13th-century fortress that crowns the Montgrí massif and offers spectacular views over the Empordà and the Medes Islands. Although it was never fully completed, its walls are impressive. I really enjoy climbing up there to take in the scenery and the silence.

The Castle of Torroella de Montgrí is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Baix Empordà region. Its slender towers and panoramic views over the sea and the Empordà plain make it an essential excursion for nature and history lovers.

Is there any place in Catalonia that brings back childhood memories?

My best memories are from Aiguablava, in Begur. I spent my entire childhood and youth there. It's a beautiful cove with crystal-clear waters and a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for enjoying the sea and nature.

What Catalan experience or tradition do you think everyone should experience at least once?

Try the classic lobster and chicken dish. It's a traditional stew that combines the best of the sea and the mountains. The combination of sofrito, fish stock, and chopped almonds creates an intense, nuanced sauce. For me, it's a dish that perfectly encapsulates the essence of Catalan cuisine.

“Lobster with chicken” is one of the jewels of Catalan gastronomy, especially in the Costa Brava and in the Girona regions, where the sea and the land come together in perfect harmony.

If you had to recommend just one thing to someone visiting Catalonia for the first time, what would it be?

The Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, in the Alt Empordà region, is an impressive Romanesque monastery, founded in the 9th century, located on Cap de Creus and surrounded by a spectacular landscape. The church, the outbuildings, and the sea views form a unique ensemble, steeped in history and spirituality.

What corner of Catalonia have you yet to discover?

The valleys of the Pyrenees. I don't know much about the mountains and I'm eager to explore them at a leisurely pace, discovering their villages and natural surroundings.

In which part of Catalonia have you given the most concerts?

Probably in Barcelona. It's the city with the most theaters and concert halls, and where I've had the opportunity to play most often.

Josep Bassal speaks with the serenity of someone who has made music a way of seeing the world. Between the sound of the cello and the echo of the mountains or the sea, he finds in Catalonia a soundscape full of harmony.

From the castle of Torroella de Montgrí to Aiguablava, from the halls of Barcelona to the valleys of the Pyrenees that still await him, his journey is like an open score, each place is a note, each memory, a melody.