Around Saariaho

Join Mad Song and ascend into the iconic clocktower above St Pancras station for a programme celebrating the iconic composer Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023).

Born in Finland, Saariaho spent her working life based in France. Indeed, she is buried in Paris's Père-Lachaise Cemetery, and this immersion in French culture unmistakeably shaped her artistic output. As well as including her own music, this programme explores her music from multiple angles including precedents, contemporaries, and tributes.

To open the concert, the ensemble are joined by soprano Caroline Bourg for Ravel's gorgeous settings of three Mallarmé poems. The programme then takes on three of Saariaho's own works, two solo pieces and the duo Oi Kuu. This last is preceded by Yakamoz, a companion piece specifically written as a tribute to Saariaho. The programme concludes with music by fellow spectral composer, Tristan Murail.

Maurice Ravel, arr. Joshua Ballance: Trois poèmes de Mallarmé (1914)

Kaija Saariaho: Nocturne for solo violin (1994)

Ilayda Oğuş: Yakamoz (2023)

Kaija Saariaho: Oi Kuu (1990)

Kaija Saariaho: Couleurs du vent (1998)

Tristan Murail: La Barque Mystique (1993)

The concert will last approximately one hour. There are two sets: one starting at 6pm and one at 8.30pm.