Kaija Saariaho

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Was walking in Stockholm and notice in street-advertizing frame big poster of Kaija Saariaho. As I'm hardly very educated on "mainstream culture" nor swedish language, I didn't know what was this Polar Music Prize nor could read much information.
Anyways later in TV news was a piece about Saariaho winning... was it half million prize for somewhat exceptional contemporary music.
I have written about her works several times in "heavier classical music" topic. It might be dull to lump it just under "heavy or dark" as works vary a lot. I probably have dozen CD's which most stand quite different from eachother.

Some Polar Music infos:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/E0csfEHX_io

examples:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/DHNTwFjxNP4

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZX3ddlH0tCI

http://www.youtube.com/embed/3jcPCXQv8Jo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRPAqEGDEO8&feature=player_detailpage

[Foyer Second]

I was at the french creation of her work Mirage, back in 2008. It was presented with two other of her works : Notes on light and Orion. I don't remember it that much but enjoyed it. Mirage is one of her more static work if I am not mistaken. Slow atonal textures that intertwine around cello and voice. It was easy to immerse into it.
Orion must be one of her most successful work (a public success), it is a bit more "classic", more tonal.
I liked the show and remember thinking about the need to follow the release of Mirage but now, I see that a recording of those very same pieces (and maybe that very same show) was issued some months after and I've never look for it.
I suppose her music is enjoyable but also easy to forget.

[Bloated Slutbag]

I think I mention in the "heavier classical music" topic that her "Six Japanese Gardens", all six of them, are quite exceptional, far from forgettable:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kluHFOvXUA

I've always been a sucker for (melo)drama...
Saariaho - Verblendungen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVm7dTuCTNw

....which I often regard as the domain of spectralism; or at least, spectralism done right.

Perhaps a topic on spectral music? I'm particularly keen on spectral things to be played with electronics and/or tape.

[Mattias G]

I haven´t heard Kaija Saariaho, i will check her out. But everyone from Moog, Stockhausen, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Iannis Xenakis, Joni Mitchell and Björk have gain the Polar Prize.
I remember it was very weird to see the Swedish king nodding to Stockhausen on television.

[Foyer Second]

I think I mention in the "heavier classical music" topic that her "Six Japanese Gardens", all six of them, are quite exceptional, far from forgettable

I know those pieces that appear on private gardens released by Ondine. It is good but I don't feel the need to go back to it.
I may enjoy her work Près - for cello and electronics - a bit more than the other pieces for soloist.
She has done a opera called Emilie recently. It is not her first but I regret missing it earlier this year.

Perhaps a topic on spectral music? I'm particularly keen on spectral things to be played with electronics and/or tape.

Yes, I would take any advices about composers in this trend.

[kettu]