“For me, the score is not just a set of instructions; it is also a visual representation of my thoughts and emotions…it is important that my scores are beautiful objects.”
– Kaija Saariaho
In her work, Saariaho operates at the border of music and noise. Her territory, whether she is composing for solo flute or symphony orchestra, is texture—what's sometimes referred to as sound color. “Listeners who ordinarily are terrified of new music and experimental music are enchanted by Saariaho,” …“Long after the curtain goes down, you feel that you are still swimming along in her sound. Those colors continue to be with you.” Excerpted from an article by Daniel Wenger titled “The Troubador and the Lady” for The New Yorker Magazine, November 24, 2016.
“She painted colorful worlds with her music”, Susanna Phillips, Soprano
Scroll down for two manuscripts, plus musical and biographical links
Kaija Saariaho, Finnish composer, “Vorschae” Composition
“Here I send you a characteristic page of a Saariaho score. It is from "Vista" for orchestra, composed in 2019 and premiered on May 12, 2021 in Helsinki.
This is a characteristic typeset score with annotations for dynamics, tempo and other details, written and submitted to the publisher by Kaija Saariaho.” Heidy Zimmermann, Curator of the Kaija Sarriaho Estate, The Paul Sacher Stiftung, Basel, Switzerland
Kaija Saariaho, Finnish composer, “Vista” Score
Kaija Saariaho
Photo by Maarit KytÖharju
Kaija Saariaho, composer “Vers Toi Qui Si Loin” (Toward You Who Are So Far), 2018
Violin, Maria Wloszczowska, Royal Northern Sinfonia, conductor, Dinis Sousa