Mariano Garau
His scores are appreciated all over the world. Mariano Garau, a composer from Iglesias, born in 1952, has achieved fame in Italy and abroad. But on Sardinian soil, he is not yet another prophet.
His sacred choral music compositions are in demand and performed in cathedrals and basilicas in the United States, Holland, Hungary, Spain, the Czech Republic, Brazil, France, Germany, Argentina, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Austria and Belgium. Some examples? Ave Verum was performed by the Japanese choir Vox Gaudiosa, Stabat Mater recorded by the Polish choir 'Pueri cantores Sancte Nicolai'. Eight of his pieces were included in the latest recording by the Dutch quartet 'Vocaal kwartet Quartz'.
"My great satisfaction was to realise a work on a character that is very close to my heart, Hildegard of Bingen," Garau emphasises. "To this extraordinary figure of a non-conformist and highly cultured Benedictine nun, I dedicated the cantata Hildegard Bambina Mistica (Hildegard the Mystical Child)," which was performed in Assisi in 2015 in its world premiere in the splendid setting of the Porziuncola of St Francis, Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
The opera on a libretto by Karen Saillant, artistic director of the International Opera Theater in Philadelphia, starring the treble voices of the International Opera Theater directed by Saillant and the voice of soprano Agnese Pazienti, was also staged at the Opera Theater in Philadelphia, USA. "The experience in Assisi and Philadelphia is a great dream come true," he says, moved.
Composer, author of romances for soprano, tenor, children's songs, masses and motets for choir, Mariano Garau's name enjoys great attention and esteem in sacred music circles and his compositions are appreciated and in demand. Many gratifications, but one desire remains: 'The satisfaction of seeing my pieces performed also in my homeland, Sardinia'.