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Orchestral and chamber music

Donald Macleod talks to Kaija Saariaho about the scope she finds in writing for small group and for large orchestral forces, with music including Cloud Trio and Laterna Magica.

Donald Macleod talks to Kaija Saariaho about the scope she finds both in writing for large scale instrumental forces and the intimacy of writing for small groups.

鈥淢usic is a study of my own self and of the human spirit鈥, 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 鈥淓ars Open鈥 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鈥檚 made her home since 1982, to talk about five contrasting aspects of her music.

Today Kaija Saariaho has chosen to talk about the differences in the canvasses and why she finds enjoyment in writing orchestral and chamber works.

Orion for Orchestra
I: Memento mori
Orchestre de Paris
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor

Nocturne for solo violin
Aliisa Neige Barri猫re, violin

Cloud Trio
IV : movement : Tranquillo ma sempre molto espressivo
Aristos Trio
Szymon Krzeszowiec, violin
Jakob Kullberg, cello
Alexander 脴llgaard, viola

Laterna Magica
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor

59 minutes

Last on

Tue 13 Oct 2020 12:00

Music Played

  • Kaija Saariaho

    Cloud Trio (2nd mvt extract)

    Ensemble: Trio Aristos.
    • BIS 2269.
    • BIS.
    • 11.
  • Kaija Saariaho

    Orion for Orchestra (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris 鈥 Philharmonie. Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach.
    • ONDINE ODE 11302.
    • ONDINE.
    • 6.
  • Kaija Saariaho

    Nocturne for solo violin (extract)

    Performer: Aliisa Neige Barri猫re.
    • Cypres 2624.
    • Cypres.
    • 1.
  • Kaija Saariaho

    Cloud Trio (4th mvt)

    Performer: Szymon Krzeszowiec. Performer: Jakob Kullberg. Performer: Alexander 脴llgaard. Ensemble: Trio Aristos.
    • BIS 2269.
    • BIS.
    • 13.
  • Kaija Saariaho

    Laterna Magica

    Orchestra: Finnish Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.
    • ONDINE 11732.
    • ONDINE.
    • 7.

Broadcast

  • Tue 13 Oct 2020 12:00

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