· By Nicholas Stevens
Kaija Saariaho at 70 | ArkivMusic
In 2019, BBC Music Magazine asked 174 composers to name the predecessors and peers they respected most. Only one composer still living at the time made the top 20: Finland-born, Paris-based Kaija Saariaho, born October 14, 1952. In 2022 she turned 70. Tragically, she died just a few months later. Her legacy lives on in the memories of today's musicians, on the concert stage, and in her extensive discography.
Who is Kaija Saariaho?
Initially interested in free forms, abstract ideas, and novel techniques, Saariaho moved toward the mainstream after composing an opera, L'amour de loin (Love from Afar, 2000), that took advantage of 20th-century innovations while also offering something audiences craved: an original love story, told with lyricism, grace, and passion. It became the second opera by a woman ever performed at the Metropolitan Opera.
What kinds of music does Saariaho write?
Saariaho continues to write concerti, operas, a piano trio, and other familiar types of classical music that reflect a balancing act between the force of modernism and the expressiveness of older traditions, from medieval song to Romantic orchestral lushness.
On Kaija Saariaho's 70th birthday, we honor her trailblazing spirit, defiance of expectation, and singular ability to connect with audiences without compromising on style or message.
What are some representative works by Saariaho?
Celebrate Saariaho's birthday by enjoying two versions of her work Tocar (2010): the original for violin and piano, and a later transcription for flute and harp. How does Saariaho's music work? Listen and find out!
Shop Saariaho: Let the Wind Speak by Camilla Hoitenga and others, plus more music by Kaija Saariaho, on ArkivMusic today.