A new CD release of works by Kaija Saariaho was released on September 6 on BIS. Featuring virtuosic violinist Peter Herresthal, Oslo Philharmionic Orchestra and conducted by Clément Mao-Takacs. The 14 track album includes Circle Map, Neiges - version for 12 celli and Graal Théâtre.
Composed in 1998, Neiges was inspired by various qualities of snow and explores instrumental languages and colours like those found in her earlier works. On the present disc the piece is heard in its never-before recorded version for twelve cellos, performed by the cellists of the Oslo Philharmonic.
Another source of inspiration has been medieval literature, which formed a point of departure for Graal Théâtre, the first concerto Saariaho wrote, as well as for the recent Vers toi qui es si loin (2018). Recorded for the first time here, the piece is a transcription, made for the violinist Peter Herresthal, of an aria from the opera L’Amour de loin.
These two works for violin and orchestra bookend this amply filled disc, and frame Circle Map, a work in six movements for large orchestra. Permeating the work are six short poems by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi, providing inspiration through their essence and vivid imagery, but also part of the musical material by way of a recording of them recited in Persian. This recording forms the raw material for the electronics included in the work, but also for much of the writing for the orchestra, for instance in terms of pitches and intonations.
Watch Kaija, Saariaho, violinist Peter Herresthal and conductor Clément Mao-Takacs discuss Graal Théâtre violin concerto and its recording with the Oslo Philarmonic for BIS.
Read Saariaho‘s bio.
