Water. An Enviromental Oratorio

Canadian composer Stephanie Martin’s ‘WATER: An Environmental Oratorio’ receives its London premiere with the combined forces of London Pro Musica Choir, Chor Amica, First-St. Andrew’s Senior Choir, St. Mary’s Children’s Choir, orchestra, and professional soloists: Paul Grambo (baritone), Chris Fischer (tenor), Katy Clark (soprano), Hillary Tufford (mezzo-soprano). The conductor is Patrick Murray of Chor Amica.

It is the story of the importance of this precious resource (water) and a community’s efforts to protect it. In this modern-day oratorio, the Mayor of a small Canadian town must choose between an ambitious developer whose questionable plans for a clothing factory will endanger a pristine water source, and her environmentalist son who pleads for her to take a stand and protect Water. The Mayor is troubled by dreams in which WATER appears as a woman and is finally brought to her senses by the spectre of her future grandchild.

The composer Stephanie Martin’s wish is, “I hope ‘WATER: An Environmental Oratorio’ will bring people together to start a conversation about this very precious resource that sustains life on our planet but that we take for granted.”

This work disrupts stagnant modes of thinking and complacency around the importance of water by considering this Anishinaabe teaching: it is our sacred duty to protect Water as human existence depends on it. The music in this oratorio utilizes several styles to embrace all listeners. Some styles include opera, folk, jazz, classic choral, and orchestral music.

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