Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Saariaho: Reconnaissance / Schweckendiek, Helsinki Chamber Choir
BIS

Saariaho: Reconnaissance / Schweckendiek, Helsinki Chamber Choir

$21.99

Details

Composer
Kaija Saariaho
Artist
Timo Kurkikangas, Anna Kuvaja
Format
SACD
Label
BIS
Released
Jul 07, 2023
Catalog #
BIS-2662
UPC
7318599926629

About

The album Reconnaissance was, of course, never intended as an epitaph. Nonetheless, It is difficult to imagine a more fitting summary of, or introduction to, the character, spirit and life’s work of Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023) on a single disc, especially where her choral repertoire is concerned.

This recording presents Kaija Saariaho’s works for choir, a cappella and with electronics, and displays her virtuosity in the treatment of texts, which she endows with the full range of verbal expression. Nuits, adieux, presented here both in its a cappella version and with electronics, could be described as a lullaby, not so much for a sleeping child as for an elderly person sleeping out of our world. Funny and very serious at the same time, Horloge, tais-toi was conceived for a children choir.

Écho! deals with the myth of Echo and Narcissus, with the idea of echo being naturally extended with electronics that process and reverb the voices of the singers. Based on poems by German poet Friedrich Hölderlin, Tags des Jahrs display an archaic choral treatment expanded by sounds of the human voices, birds, wind and other natural phenomena. Überzeugung engages with medieval music and treats the contrast between light and dark as a trance-like interplay between past and present. Finally, Reconnaissance can be seen as a ‘science-fiction madrigal’.

Nils Schweckendiek and the Helsinki Chamber Choir initially performed this program in concert in August 2022 as part of the celebrations surrounding Saariaho’s 70th birthday.

REVIEW:

The album Reconnaissance was, of course, never intended as an epitaph. Nonetheless, it is difficult to imagine a more fitting summary of, or introduction to, the character, spirit and life’s work of Kaija Saariaho on a single disc, especially where her choral repertoire is concerned. To quote her artistic statement on choral music from the booklet, ‘the entire range of verbal expression is available to be woven into a multi-layered and heterogeneous whole’. The remarkable array of works showcased here – and mostly in recording premieres, no less – demonstrates just how dedicated she was to this principle over the course of so many decades.

In addition, by presenting two contrasting versions of the same piece (Nuits, adieux) together, the album provides a rare example of a composer’s process of revisiting the same material for different times and places, allowing us a glimpse into a whole other dimension of Saariaho’s musical thinking. Lastly, the album is a testament to her ongoing collaboration with other members of the musical community, including high-profile colleagues and young family members alike. How fortunate we are to have this one last gift from Saariaho, a document that not only expands the discography of her critically important oeuvre but also serves as a testament for future generations to the example of a composer’s life exceptionally well lived.

-- Classical Music Daily

The opening work, Nuits, adieux, is as good an illustration as any of the manifoldness of Saariaho’s sound-world. It exists in two versions: the original (with electronics) from 1991, and the a cappella version from 1996. Together, they bookend this delectable programme...A particular attraction is the recurring solos by the marvellously beautiful soprano voice of Linnéa Sundfær Casserly. In the a cappella version, the electronics are replaced by eight-part chorus, while the solo parts are practically identical with the original. It is a special treat to return to the work in that modified version at the end of the programme.

Écho! from 2007 for eight voices and electronics, was inspired by a double-choir motet by Claude Le Jeune (c. 1528/30–1600), which deals with the Echo myth...It is immensely beautiful.

To me, [the title work, Reconaissance] is the most important choral work composed on this side of the turn of the millennium, and in harness with the rest of the programme, which is just as valuable, this is an indispensable disc for all lovers of choral music. The performances are tremendous. It is also a worthy memorial to Kaija Saariaho.

-- MusicWeb International

Tracklist 31 tracks

  1. 1 Nuit I 01:41
    Track
    1
    Title
    Nuit I
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  2. 2 Adieu I 01:26
    Track
    2
    Title
    Adieu I
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  3. 3 Nuit II 01:15
    Track
    3
    Title
    Nuit II
    Duration
    01:15
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  4. 4 Adieu II 01:32
    Track
    4
    Title
    Adieu II
    Duration
    01:32
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  5. 5 Nuit III 01:20
    Track
    5
    Title
    Nuit III
    Duration
    01:20
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  6. 6 Nuit IV 01:26
    Track
    6
    Title
    Nuit IV
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  7. 7 Nuit V 00:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    Nuit V
    Duration
    00:44
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  8. 8 Adieu III-V 02:38
    Track
    8
    Title
    Adieu III-V
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Timo Kurkikangas
  9. 9 Horloge, tais-toi! (version for female choir and piano) 03:21
    Track
    9
    Title
    Horloge, tais-toi! (version for female choir and piano)
    Duration
    03:21
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Anna Kuvaja
    Ensemble
    female section Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  10. 10 I. Dolce, energico 03:06
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Dolce, energico
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Júlia Heéger, Eleriin Müüripeal, David Hackston, Mats Lillhannus, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Jussi Linnanmäki, Timo Kurkikangas
  11. 11 II. Calmo, espressivo 03:17
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Calmo, espressivo
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Júlia Heéger, Eleriin Müüripeal, David Hackston, Mats Lillhannus, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Jussi Linnanmäki, Timo Kurkikangas
  12. 12 III. Libero, intenso 04:32
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Libero, intenso
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Júlia Heéger, Eleriin Müüripeal, David Hackston, Mats Lillhannus, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi, Jussi Linnanmäki, Timo Kurkikangas
  13. 13 I. Der Frühling (Spring) 03:22
    Track
    13
    Title
    I. Der Frühling (Spring)
    Duration
    03:22
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Timo Kurkikangas
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  14. 14 II. Der Sommer (Summer) 04:25
    Track
    14
    Title
    II. Der Sommer (Summer)
    Duration
    04:25
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Timo Kurkikangas
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  15. 15 III. Der Herbst (Autumn) 01:30
    Track
    15
    Title
    III. Der Herbst (Autumn)
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Timo Kurkikangas
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  16. 16 IV. Der Winter (Winter) 05:39
    Track
    16
    Title
    IV. Der Winter (Winter)
    Duration
    05:39
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Timo Kurkikangas
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  17. 17 Überzeugung 02:50
    Track
    17
    Title
    Überzeugung
    Duration
    02:50
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Keri Kallio, Emma Suszko, Eira Karlson
    Ensemble
    Uusinta Ensemble
  18. 18 I. The First Martian in a Long Time 04:28
    Track
    18
    Title
    I. The First Martian in a Long Time
    Duration
    04:28
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir, Uusinta Ensemble
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  19. 19 II. Count Down 03:23
    Track
    19
    Title
    II. Count Down
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir, Uusinta Ensemble
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  20. 20 Interlude 01:54
    Track
    20
    Title
    Interlude
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Riku Laurikka
    Ensemble
    Uusinta Ensemble
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  21. 21 III. Green House 05:24
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Green House
    Duration
    05:24
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir, Uusinta Ensemble
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  22. 22 IV. Desert People 03:29
    Track
    22
    Title
    IV. Desert People
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir, Uusinta Ensemble
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  23. 23 V. Requiem 05:49
    Track
    23
    Title
    V. Requiem
    Duration
    05:49
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir, Uusinta Ensemble
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  24. 24 Nuit I 01:31
    Track
    24
    Title
    Nuit I
    Duration
    01:31
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  25. 25 Adieu I 01:28
    Track
    25
    Title
    Adieu I
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  26. 26 Nuit II 01:19
    Track
    26
    Title
    Nuit II
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  27. 27 Adieu II 01:37
    Track
    27
    Title
    Adieu II
    Duration
    01:37
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  28. 28 Nuit III 01:21
    Track
    28
    Title
    Nuit III
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  29. 29 Nuit IV 01:26
    Track
    29
    Title
    Nuit IV
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  30. 30 Nuit V 00:49
    Track
    30
    Title
    Nuit V
    Duration
    00:49
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek
  31. 31 Adieux III-IV 02:22
    Track
    31
    Title
    Adieux III-IV
    Duration
    02:22
    Composer
    Kaija Saariaho
    Performer
    Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Eleriin Müüripeal, Martti Anttila, Sampo Haapaniemi
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Chamber Choir
    Conductor
    Nils Schweckendiek