Aqua [Wasser]

Gonzalo Grau's oratorio Aqua, commissioned by the International 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 markedby a variety of influences: "For me a Gregorian chant is just as beautiful as a Cuban Santer a 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 is the central theme.