Kaija Saariaho: Circle Map, Graal théâtre, Vers toi qui es si loin & Neiges

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The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra are on fine form as they embrace Kaija Saariaho’s unique soundscape in this collection of works spanning the last 25 years…In both [Vers toi qui es si loin] and... — BBC Music Magazine, December 2019, 5 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 4 out of 5 stars (Recording) More…

Release Date: 27th Sep 2019
Catalogue No: BIS2402
Label: BIS
Length: 87 minutes

BBC Music Magazine

December 2019

Concerto Choice
Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year

2019

Nominated - Chamber
International Classical Music Awards

2019

Nominee - Contemporary Music
Grammy Awards

63rd Awards (2021)

Nominee - Best Classical Compendium

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Saariaho: Vers toi qui es si loin

Work length6:50

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Peter Herresthal (violin)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Clément Mao-Takacs

Saariaho: Circle Map

Work length30:22

$6.00

$7.80

$10.50

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Clément Mao-Takacs

I. Morning Wind

Track length4:36

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Walls Closing

Track length4:12

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Circles

Track length5:43

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Days Are Sieves

Track length4:41

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Dialogue

Track length6:11

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Day and Night Music

Track length4:59

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Saariaho: Neiges

Work length18:36

$5.00

$6.50

$8.75

Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Clément Mao-Takacs

I. Nuages de neige

Track length5:35

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Étoile de neige I

Track length1:32

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Étoile de neige II

Track length2:43

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Aiguilles de glace

Track length4:48

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Fleurs de neige

Track length3:58

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Saariaho: Graal théâtre

Work length31:17

Album only

$9.00

$12.25

Peter Herresthal (violin)
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Clément Mao-Takacs

Track length18:56

Album only

$5.15

$7.00

II.

Track length12:21

$2.05

$3.85

$5.25

About
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About

Several of Kaija Saariaho’s works are named after natural phenomena that serve as a starting point to her compositional process. Composed in 1998, Neiges was inspired by various qualities of snow and explores instrumental languages and colors similar to those found in her earlier works. On the present album 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. All four works are conducted by Clément Mao Takacs, who has collaborated extensively with Kaija Saariaho and conducted her music across Europe and in the U.S.A.

Reviews

December 2019

The Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra are on fine form as they embrace Kaija Saariaho’s unique soundscape in this collection of works spanning the last 25 years…In both [Vers toi qui es si loin] and Graal Théâtre, Herresthal is a dazzling soloist, at once neat and carefree, imbuing the often-abstract score with tenderness and tackling the extended techniques with aplomb.

November 2019

Graal Théâtre (1994) is the climax of her initial phase. Here the violin’s soloistic role ensures an oppositional momentum over its half-hour span...Medieval imagery is more explicit in Vers toi qui es si loin, a recent arrangement of the final aria from her opera L’amour de loin...Performances could scarcely be bettered.

October 2019

Three beautiful works: two first recordings, and a mystifying piece.

3rd November 2019

Vers toi qui es si loin for violin and orchestra, an aria transcription from her opera L’Amour de loin, sounds far away indeed, a seven-minute shimmer. Neiges (1998) for eight cellos comes in a version for 12. Circle Map evokes the Persian poet Rumi, his words penetrating the musical discourse.

Kaija Saariaho: Circle Map, Graal théâtre, Vers toi qui es si loin & Neiges

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