Bonaventura

Bonaventura Frígola Frígola

Castelló d'Empúries , 1829
Barcelona , 1901

Composer and Performer

Composer, violinist and conductor

He began violin in his family circle and with Jaume Lleys. In 1847 he moved to Barcelona where he worked as a second violin at the Gran Teatre del Liceu and became concertino in 1848. Three years later, he moved to Paris to lead the Bartorello ballet company and studied at the conservatory, where he won the second composition award (1851). In Paris, he worked as a violinist and conductor at several theaters. He was temporarily Kapellmeister at Sant Esteve in Banyoles and, from 1854 to 1858, in Castelló d'Empúries. After some time in Le Havre (1868) and Paris (1880), in 1881 he returned to Barcelona, where he founded (together with Joan B. Pujol) a symphonic orchestra of 120 musicians. He conducted the inaugural concerts of the Lyric Theater-Sala Beethoven and was elected Kapellmeister of Basilica of La Mercè. He composed orchestral and religious music, as well as sardanes.