Kaija Saariaho (b. 1952) was a Finnish composer renowned for her innovative contributions to contemporary classical music. She studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and furthered her education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was influenced by the avant-garde music scene and the use of technology in composition.  She was the first woman to have her work (“L’amour de loin”) performed at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in more than a century.   Ethyl Smyth’s “The World” was performed there in 1902.

Her works often explores themes of nature, identity, and the human experience, showcasing her deep emotional and intellectual engagement with music. She expresses these themes through a blend of acoustic and electronic elements.

One of the distinctive features of Saariaho’s compositions is her handwritten scores, which are not only functional but also artistic artifacts. Each score is a reflection of her creative process, showcasing her meticulous attention to detail and the physicality of music-making. The beauty of her handwritten scores adds a visual dimension to her work, inviting performers to engage with her compositions on multiple levels. For her, the act of writing by hand embodied the physicality of music-making and created a more intimate communication between the composer and the performer. She believed the nuances in her notation would convey subtleties that might be lost by computer.

Ms. Saariaho developed brain cancer (Glioblastoma), a condition she kept private until her death in 2023. Her work serves as inspiration for a new generation of composers and musicians and continues to resonate in concert halls around the world, solidifying her legacy as a pivotal figure in contemporary music.