Kaija Saariaho:
A Brief Overview

In fall of 2024 I’m trying to organize a huge festival through my nonprofit, New Music Decanted. It will be a three-day, six-concert retrospective of the music of Saariaho, featuring her complete chamber works (42 pieces of music).

Kaija Saairaho passed away last year and she was, quite simply, an icon. Originally from Finland, she spent most of her professional life in Paris. In 2022, BBC named her the 17th greatest composer of all time… in between Haydn and Brahms. She was the highest-ranked female and, at the time, the highest-ranked living composer.

I made a Spotify Playlist for you featuring five works that I particularly like.

She was quite prolific and, because of her close friendship with Finnish cellist Anssi Kartunnen, she wrote a ton of music for the cello:

Cello Concertos:

…à la Fumée (1990) - Double Concerto for Alto Flute and Cello

Amers (1992) - Chamber Cello Concerto

Mirage (2007) - Double concerto for Cello and Soprano

Notes on Light (2006) - Cello Concerto

Notes on Light (2006) - Chamber Cello Concerto version

Cello Ensemble:

Neiges (1998) - 2 versions, for 8 or 12 cellos

Chamber Music:

Im Traume (1980) - Cello, Piano

Nymphéa (1987) - String Quartet & Electronics

Oi Kuu (1990) - Bass Clarinet (or Bass Flute) and Cello

Gates (1991) - Flute, Harpsichord, Cello, Electronics

New Gates (1996) - Flute, Harp, Cello

Mirrors (1997) - Flute, Cello

Cendres (1998) - Alto Flute, Piano, Cello

Je sens un deuxième coeur (2003) - Viola, Cello, Piano

Terra Memoria (2006) - String Quartet

Mirage (2007) - Piano, Cello, Soprano [see double concerto]

Serenatas (2008) - Piano, Cello, Percussion

Cloud Trio (2009) - Violin, Viola, Cello

Aure (2011) - Violin, Cello

Light and Matter (2014) - Piano, Violin, Cello

Solo Cello:

Petals (1988) - Cello & Electronics

Près (1992) - Cello & Electronics

Spins & Spells (1997)

Sept Papillons (2000)

Dreaming Chaccone (2010)

Lullaby (2020)

If the festival happens, I will be one of four cellists (among 30 performers) to play. I’ll perform Im Traume, New Gates, Mirrors, Cendres, Serenatas, and the Cloud Trio.