Kaija Saariaho (b 1952)

“Music is a study of my own self and of the human spirit”, so
says the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Her passion for music
is all consuming, with the inspiration to compose reflecting the
breadth of her interests, in poetry, literature, fine arts, and
cinematography to name but a few.


One of the foremost composers of our time, Kaija Saariaho was
born in 1952 in Helsinki. She studied with the modernist Paavo
Heininen, before founding the pioneering “Ears Open” group with
fellow composer Magnus Lindberg. Her studies continued in
Freiburg with Brian Fernyhough and Klaus Huber at the Darmstadt
summer courses, and then at the ground-breaking IRCAM research
institute in Paris.


Earlier this year Donald Macleod and Kaija Saariaho met up in
Paris, the city where she’s made her home since 1982, to talk
about five contrasting aspects of her music.


Music Included:


D’Om le vrai sens (excerpt) Notes on Light for cello and
orchestra (II. Fire & III. Awakening) Noa Noa for flute and
electronics D’Om le vrai sens, (III. L’Odorat & IV. Le
Toucher) Orion for Orchestra (I. Memento mori) Nocturne for solo
violin Cloud Trio (IV. Tranquillo ma sempre molto espressivo)
Laterna Magica Circle Map (excerpt) Jardin secret II for
harpsichord and tape Lichtbogen for nine musicians and live
electronics (excerpt) Lonh for voice and electronics Circle Map
(V. Dialogue VI. Day and Night) Quatre Instants (excerpt) Quatre
instants (II. Douleur – Torment & III. Parfum de l’instant)
Nuits, adieux for mixed choir and 4 soloists True Fire for
baritone and orchestra (excerpt) Leino Songs L’amour de loin, Act
4 excerpt La passion de Simone for soprano solo, choir, orchestra
and electronics (excerpt) Only the Sound Remains (excerpt)
L’amour de loin, Act 5


Presented by Donald Macleod


Produced by Johannah Smith for BBC Cymru Wales


For full track listings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Kaija Saariaho
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000nbdg


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z