Content:

Kaija Saariaho
Works for Orchestra



Artists:
Avanti! Chamber Orchestra
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestre de Paris
Tapiola Chamber Choir
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Hannu Lintu, conductor
Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
Petri Alanko, flute
Pia Freund, soprano
Anssi Karttunen, cello
Anu Komsi, soprano
Karita Mattila, soprano
Riikka Rantanen, mezzo-soprano
Petteri Salomaa, baritone
John Storgårds, violin
Gabriel Suovanen, baritone

Genres:
Instrumental
Orchestral
Vocal
Finnish contemporary

Series:
Compilations

Features:

Boxed set of 4 CDs; booklet with liner notes in English and Finnish and the sung texts in the original language and in English

Format:
CD

Released:
February 2012

Catalogue No.:
ODE 1113-2Q

EAN/UPC Code:
0761195111321

Track listing

CD 1 69:25
Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023)
1 Lichtbogen, for nine musicians and live electronics (1986) 16:34
2 Grammaire des rêves (1988) 14:32
3 Du cristal for symphony orchestra (1989-1990) 16:40
4 ...à la fumée, for alto flute, cello and symphony orchestra (1990) 21:13


CD 2 55:28
Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023)
1 Caliban's Dream (1992) 3:32
2 Solar (1993) 17:01
Graal théâtre, for solo violin and chamber orchestra (1997) 29:43
3 I. Delicato 18:25
4 II. Impetuoso 11:18
5 Miranda's Lament (1997) 4:42


CD 3 73:20
Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023)
Oltra mar (1998-99) 21:53
1 I. Départ 4:38
2 II. Amour 3:05
3 III. Vagues 2:18
4 IV. Temps 3:39
5 V. Souvenir des vagues 1:10
6 VI. Mort (In memory of Gérard Grisey) 3:38
7 VII. Arrivée 3:25
Nymphéa Reflection (2001) 21:40
8 I. Sostenuto 3:32
9 II. Feroce 3:38
10 III. Dolcissimo 4:15
11 IV. Lento espressivo 3:17
12 V. Furioso 3:56
13 VI. Misterioso 3:02
Cinq reflets de 'L'Amour de loin' (2001) 29:28
14 I. Outremer 6:24
15 II. Songe 5:05
16 III. L'Amour de loin 7:25
17 IV. Si la mort pouvait attendre 5:32
18 V. Vers toi qui es si loin 5:01


CD 4 63:08
Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023)
Orion, for orchestra (2002) 21:52
1 I. Memento mori 6:58
2 II. Winter Sky 9:28
3 III. Hunter 5:26
Notes on Light, for cello and orchestra (2006) 27:25
4 I. Translucent, secret 4:56
5 II. On fire 3:12
6 III. Awakening 7:52
7 IV. Eclipse 4:22
8 V. Heart of Light 4:22
9 Mirage, for soprano, cello and orchestra (2007) 13:31



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Complete description

"The life-force of Kaija Saariaho's music is its feast of sensory awakening and shocking emotional nakedness. A raw honesty permeates the atmosphere of mystery. This music is an obsessive, immersive and magical weather system bringing ecstasy, cleansing, and renewal." - Peter Sellars

On the occasion of her 60th anniversary in 2012, this 4-CD collector's box contains recordings of fourteen orchestral works by Grammy-awarded Kaija Saariaho, many of them featuring vocal or instrumental soloists. This specially priced anthology highlights the Finnish composer's oeuvre from 1986 to 2007, a period that follows the evolution of her compositional style from the early days of her career to more recent times. The featured works have helped to cement Saariaho's international position as one of the most successful living composers and have garnered her several important awards along the way (Grawemeyer Award 2003, Musical America's Composer of the Year 2008, MIDEM Classical Award 2009, Wihuri Sibelius Prize 2009, Sonning Music Prize 2011). Kaija Saariaho has been the New York Carnegie Hall's Composer-in-Residence since the beginning of the 2011-12 Season.

The recordings were made between 1992 and 2008 have been previously released by Ondine to international popular and critical acclaim. The featured conductors are:

  • Hannu Lintu and the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra (Lichtbogen; Grammaire des rêves; Caliban's Dream; Solar; Graal théâtre; Miranda's Lament);
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen leading the L.A. Philharmonic in Du cristal ...à la fumée;
  • Jukka-Pekka Saraste conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Oltra mar; Nympéa Reflection; Cinq reflets de 'L'Amour de loin');
  • Christoph Eschenbach leading the Orchestre de Paris (Orion; Notes on Light; Mirage).


Several works include soloists:

  • Soprano Anu Komsi and contralto Riikka Rantanen in Grammaire des rêves;
  • Flutist Petri Alanko and cellist Anssi Karttunen in ...à la fumée;
  • Baritone Petteri Salomaa in Caliban's Dream;
  • Violinist John Storgårds in Graal théâtre;
  • Soprano Anu Komsi in Miranda's Lament;
  • Tapiola Chamber Choir in Oltra mar;
  • Soprano Pia Freund and baritone Gabriel Suovanen in Cinq reflets de 'L'Amour de loin';
  • Cellist Anssi Karttunen in Notes on Light;
  • Soprano Karita Mattila and cellist Anssi Karttunen in Mirage.