Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023)

Started by bhodges, April 02, 2008, 07:05:43 AM

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brewski

#60
June 03, 2023, 07:30:43 AM
And here is the New York Times obit, by Josh Barone (free, no paywall required).

-Bruce
"I set down a beautiful chord on paper—and suddenly it rusts."
—Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998)

Florestan

#61
June 03, 2023, 09:27:54 AM
Never heard one single note of hers, but anyone's death is always a sad news. May God rest her in peace.
There is no theory. You have only to listen. Pleasure is the law. — Claude Debussy

kyjo

#62
June 03, 2023, 11:11:57 AM
RIP Ms. Saariaho. I can't say I've been very taken by what I've heard of her music, but I'm certainly open to suggestions. Anyone have any particular recommendations?
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music" - Sergei Rachmaninoff

vandermolen

#63
June 03, 2023, 12:58:14 PM
Quote from: brewski on June 03, 2023, 07:30:43 AMAnd here is the New York Times obit, by Josh Barone (free, no paywall required).

-Bruce
Thanks Bruce - an interesting tribute.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

ritter

#64
June 03, 2023, 01:00:08 PM Last Edit: June 03, 2023, 01:35:45 PM by ritter
Quote from: kyjo on June 03, 2023, 11:11:57 AMRIP Ms. Saariaho. I can't say I've been very taken by what I've heard of her music, but I'm certainly open to suggestions. Anyone have any particular recommendations?
My first exposure to Saariaho's music was this CD, and it still remains a favourite.



All three works on it, Graal théâtre for violin and orchestra, Amers for cello and orchestra, and the song cycle Château de l'âme for soprano, female chorus and orchestra, are great, but the last mentioned one is what made me fall in love with Saariaho's music.

Here is the last song, ravishingly sung by Dawn Upshaw:



Alex Bozman

#65
June 04, 2023, 02:45:24 PM
Shocked to hear this, 70 is no age really.

I haven't heard much of her recent work, something to remedy and found it hard to get a handle on many of the earlier pieces. Graal théâtre on the CD Ritter suggests would be my suggestion of an entry point to Saariaho's music.

Skogwald

#66
May 31, 2024, 12:51:18 PM
My favorites of her works are L'Amour de Loin, Graal Theater and Maa.

I saw Innocence live and it was striking but I'm not sure how it would work on record since it's quite a plot heavy opera.

Pohjolas Daughter

#67
May 31, 2024, 01:12:35 PM
Quote from: Skogwald on May 31, 2024, 12:51:18 PMMy favorites of her works are L'Amour de Loin, Graal Theater and Maa.

I saw Innocence live and it was striking but I'm not sure how it would work on record since it's quite a plot heavy opera.
I like L'Amour de Loin.  I don't know the other works.

PD
Pohjolas Daughter

Skogwald

#68
May 31, 2024, 01:26:59 PM Last Edit: May 31, 2024, 01:28:33 PM by Skogwald
Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on May 31, 2024, 01:12:35 PMI like L'Amour de Loin.  I don't know the other works.

PD

If you like that, you should get into her other stuff. In my opinion Saariaho is quite consistent and she has written a lot of great music. Graal Theater is a more accessible violin concerto and Maa is quite a challenging electroacoustic work that's very expressive.

relm1

#69
June 01, 2024, 05:12:28 AM
I think quite highly of Orion.

Pohjolas Daughter

#70
June 01, 2024, 05:27:53 AM
Quote from: Skogwald on May 31, 2024, 01:26:59 PMIf you like that, you should get into her other stuff. In my opinion Saariaho is quite consistent and she has written a lot of great music. Graal Theater is a more accessible violin concerto and Maa is quite a challenging electroacoustic work that's very expressive.
I have a smattering of her works:  Quatre Instants (with Karita Mattila & Martin Katz); Nuits, Adieux; and Song Without Words.

PD
Pohjolas Daughter

relm1

#71
June 02, 2024, 05:24:12 AM
I also like her operas and vocal works.  They are quite tense and atmospheric but also lyrical.  I'm going off memory but think it was L'Amour de loin.

brewski

#72
June 04, 2024, 07:00:54 PM
Great news, Saariaho fans: you can get a virtual ticket for Innocence, which the San Francisco Opera will livestream on Wednesday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. (PDT). Tickets are $27.50 (cheaper than a trip to SF), and you don't have to watch it live; if the time isn't convenient, you can watch the stream for 48 hours afterward.

More info here.

-Bruce
"I set down a beautiful chord on paper—and suddenly it rusts."
—Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998)

foxandpeng

#73
June 05, 2024, 05:00:34 AM
Sad news, indeed. It is some while since I have spent time with Saariaho's music, although I seem to remember enjoying the Ondine disc of her 'Works for Orchestra'... about 4 and a half hours' worth. The only piece I can really remember was her cello concerto 'Notes on Light', which I revisited several times. I liked what I heard, and my neglect of her since is solely to do with there being so many other composers to hear...

Time to revisit for a few days and familiarise myself, I think.
"A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people ... then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbour — such is my idea of happiness"

Tolstoy

Pohjolas Daughter

#74
June 05, 2024, 08:59:25 AM
Quote from: foxandpeng on June 05, 2024, 05:00:34 AMSad news, indeed. It is some while since I have spent time with Saariaho's music, although I seem to remember enjoying the Ondine disc of her 'Works for Orchestra'... about 4 and a half hours' worth. The only piece I can really remember was her cello concerto 'Notes on Light', which I revisited several times. I liked what I heard, and my neglect of her since is solely to do with there being so many other composers to hear...

Time to revisit for a few days and familiarise myself, I think.
Thanks for mentioning it.  I found it on YT.  This is the first movement (for those who are interested).


PD
Pohjolas Daughter
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