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The music of Kaija Saariaho

Tom Service takes a journey through the beguiling music of Kaija Saariaho, from her operas exploring the big human themes to sensuous orchestral and instrumental works.

Tom Service takes an introductory journey through the beguiling sound world of Kaija Saariaho.

Finnish-born, Paris-based Saariaho's music, at once dark and dazzling, immediate and sensual, has ensured her position as one of the world's leading living composers. From operas which explore the big human themes, to orchestral and instrumental works which fuse electronic and acoustic sounds, her voice is completely distinctive and instantly recognisable, a triumph of extraordinary imagination and determination over an unpromising family background.

David Papp (producer)

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 8 Mar 2020 17:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Kaija Saariaho

    Lichtbogen for 9 instruments and live electronics

    Conductor: Jukka‐Pekka Saraste. Performer: Avanti Orchestra.
    • Finlandia.
    • FACD374.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    L' Amour de loin - opera in 5 acts

    Conductor: Kent Nagano. Performer: Berlin Radio Chamber Choir. Performer: German S O Berlin.
    • HM.
    • HMC801937/38.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    Petals for cello and electronics

    Performer: Alexis Descharmes.
    • aeon.
    • AECD0637.

  • John Chowning

    Frequency Modulation

    Performer: David Wessel.
    • IRCAM.
    • 0001.

  • Maurice Bejart

    Cross-Synthesis

    Performer: Maurice Bejart.
    • IRCAM.
    • 0001.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    Orion for orchestra

    Performer: Christoph Eschenbach. Performer: Paris Chamber Orchestra.
    • Ondine.
    • ODE11302.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    L' Amour de loin - opera in 5 acts

    Conductor: Kent Nagano. Performer: Marie-Ange Todorovitch. Performer: Berlin Radio Chamber Choir. Performer: German S O Berlin.
    • HM.
    • HMC801937/38.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    L' Amour de loin - opera in 5 acts

    Conductor: Kent Nagano. Performer: Berlin Radio Chamber Choir. Performer: German S O Berlin.
    • HM.
    • HMC801937/38.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    L' Amour de loin - opera in 5 acts

    Conductor: Kent Nagano. Performer: Ekaterina Lekhina. Performer: Berlin Radio Chamber Choir. Performer: German S O Berlin.
    • HM.
    • HMC801937/38.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    L' Amour de loin - opera in 5 acts

    Conductor: Kent Nagano. Performer: Daniel Belcher. Performer: Berlin Radio Chamber Choir. Performer: German S O Berlin.
    • HM.
    • HMC801937/38.

  • Kaija Saariaho

    Du Cristal for orchestra

    Conductor: Esa‐Pekka Salonen. Performer: Los Angeles Philharmonic.
    • Ondine.
    • ODE10472.

Broadcast

  • Sun 8 Mar 2020 17:00
    BBC Radio 3

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