Gonzalo Grau's oratorio Aqua, commissioned by the Bachakademie Stuttgart, is concerned with the important global theme of "water." It is precisely in central Europe that this precious commodity is frequently and thoughtlessly wasted, while in other parts of the world it is so scarce. Moreover, water shows two sides, which Grau makes audible in his oratorio: It gives, but it can also take life – in some places rain brings luck, while in others it brings destruction. Worldwide water is a theme, it means different things in different cultures – this, for example, is reflected in the music of Indian and African cultures. Gonzalo Grau's compositional style is marked by a variety of influences: "For me a Gregorian chant is just as beautiful as a Cuban Santería song. Indian ornamentation and baroque articulation can both appear in the same piece," says the composer. Special sound effects make Aqua a multi-cultural oratorio in which man and the environment (which he threatens) is the central theme. The CD is a live recording of the highly acclaimed world premiere performance in September 2011.
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(8)
- I. La Voz del Origen
- II. Invocación de los Ríos
- Canción de los Rápidos Remeros
- III. Los Caminos de la Sed
- IV. Y Llegaron las Lluvias …
- La Gran Crecida
- V. Río Abajo: La Mar que es el Morir
- La Fiesta. El Encuentro de las Aguas
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Contents
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Composer
Gonzalo Grau
| 1972
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Songwriter / Librettist
María Fernanda Palacios
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Preface writer
Friedrich Sprondel
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Ensemble
Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart
Since August 2013, the Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart has been under the artistic direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann, the director of the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart. Under the patronage of the Bachakademie, the choir plays a decisive role in a wide range of concerts, guest performances and recordings for both radio and CD. The center of the choir’s activities consists, in addition to its manifold activities in the MUSI KFEST UTT GART , of a large concert series with oratorio programs ranging from Schütz to commissioned contemporary works. The interpretation of vocal works by Johann Sebastian Bach has always been a special focus of the choir. The Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, which is named after a small village in the Swabian Alb and was founded by Helmuth Rilling in 1954, has ranked as one of the outstanding concert choirs of the world for decades. In addition to regular performances with its partner ensemble, the Bach-Collegium Stuttgart, the choir frequently works together with orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic. It also has a particularly close relationship with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra of the SWR. The choir is regularly conducted by guest conductors such as Masaaki Suzuki, Krzysztof Penderecki, Alexander Liebreich and Sir Roger Norrington. Guest performances have led the ensemble to, among others, China and Latin America, as well as to the large festivals Salzburg, Lucerne, Prague, New York, Paris, London, Vienna and Seoul. The choir has recorded hundreds of CDs which include Bach’s complete vocal works, diverse 18th century oratorios as well as several world premieres including works by Penderecki, Pärt and Rihm. Personal details
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Ensemble
Bundesjugendorchester
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Conductor
María Guinand
| 1953María Guinand ist eine international angesehene Dirigentin. Personal details
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Soloist
Gioconda Cabrera Colon
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Soloist
Ivan Garcia
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Soloist
Benedikt Hoppe
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Narrator
Carlos Sánchez Torrealba
Reviews
Die Interpreten der vorliegenden CD machen ihre Sache extrem gut. […] Die Schlagzeuger verfügen über die nötige Lässigkeit, der Chor ist präsent, intonationssicher und flexibel, die Solisten glänzen mit intensivstem Ausdruck, die Liveaufnahme lebt.
Gerhard Scherer, das Orchester, Dezember 2012
Gerhard Scherer, das Orchester, Dezember 2012
[…] ein interessantes und bereicherndes Hörerlebnis […]
Pizzicato, 12/2012
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