Saariaho Festival (2011)
A homage to one of the greatest composers of recent decades. The New European Ensemble in collaboration with the Residentie Orkest, Dag in de Branding, the Royal Conservatoire, and the Dr Anton Philipszaal.
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Saariaho Festival The Hague. I have always felt a deep connection with the music of Kaija Saariaho, and I am very happy that we are able to welcome her personally for this special festival. We hope that this festival will be a beautiful showcase of the many facets of Kaija Saariaho’s artistic oeuvre. The program includes nearly all of her works for large ensemble and a broad selection of her most important orchestral and chamber music compositions. The festival highlights the strong connection between Kaija Saariaho’s music and the visual arts, with exhibitions in Theater aan het Spui and in the Atrium of The Hague’s City Hall.
I first discovered Kaija Saariaho’s music when I was fifteen years old. I was captivated by the beauty and drama hidden within it and felt as if time had stopped. This introspective music seems to be in constant search of ways to express the mysteries of human existence. Kaija Saariaho draws inspiration from many sources: light, nature, the night sky, and poetry. From my first encounter, I have been deeply moved by her music.
The journey we embark on to explore this mystical, warm, and intimate music promises to be multifaceted and profound. I am delighted that you are joining us on this journey and hope that you will be carried away by the poetry of this music, which belongs among the most enchanting of our time.
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