FESTIVAL COMPOSER
BERGEN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2017
007 m
Vertavo Quartet
TROLDHAUGEN TROLDSALEN Monday 29 May at 16:00
Finland 100
TROLDHAUGEN TROLDSALEN Tuesday 30 May at 16:00
Jakob Kullberg with Aliisa Neige Barrière
HÅKONSHALLEN Tuesday 30 May at 19:30
La Passion de Simone
CORNER- TEATERET Wednesday 31 May at 20:00
1B1 Ensemble
TROLDHAUGEN TROLDSALEN Thursday 01 June at 18:00
Masterclass with Kaija Saariaho
LOGEN Friday 02 June at 10:00
London Sinfonietta
HÅKONSHALLEN Friday 02 June at 19:30
Kathryn Stott
TROLDHAUGEN GRIEGS VILLA Friday 02 June at 22:30
Closing Consert
GRIEGHALLEN Wednesday 07 June at 18:00
Kaija Saariaho
Festival Composer and Artist in Residence
When she was a little girl , Kaija Saariaho had so much music flowing from her pillow she had to ask her mother to turn it off so she could sleep .
Today the world is certainly grateful that music kept flowing from that little girl ’ s head . Kaija Saariaho has since long been considered one of our most outstanding composers , her list of achievements including a number of awards and distinctions and her compositions being performed on the world ’ s most prestigious arenas .
The Finnish composer was born in Helsinki in 1952 , where she became a student at the Sibelius Academy . Her studies later brought her to Paris and IRCAM , where she focused on computer-based composition . During this year ’ s festival we give prominence to the totality of her artistry .
– Bergen International Festival ’ s ambition is to present world class art . Kaija Saariaho is a leading figure within modern music , and I am proud to present her as our 2017 Festival Composer and Artist in Residence . The audience will experience Saariaho ’ s art both in the symphonic form and chamber music format , and her musical drama is also represented . Besides , it is a great pleasure for the Festival to take part in Finland ’ s 100 years celebration by highlighting Finnish music in a series of concerts , dialogues , and introductions , says Festival director Anders Beyer .
Kaija Saariaho is renowned for creating stirring , almost physical works with luminous , dense acoustic patterns that are continually changing . The audience tend to experience the music as visual , as colours or atmospheric paintings , whether they are listening to works for smaller ensembles , symphony orchestras , or the opera stage .
The oratorio La Passion de Simone , performed at Cornerteateret ( p . 92 ), is ‘ a magical union of words , music and theatre ; a creation of great beauty and drama …’ according to The Independent on Sunday . Saariaho ’ s compositions are also a central part of the Closing Concert ( p . 42 ) and the extensive concert programme for the composers ’ homes . ( p . 54 – 68 ). She also participates in the Dialogues programme ( p . 96 ), gives the opening introduction to the world premiere of the commissioned work Concordia ( p . 49 ), and gives a masterclass for students ( p . 71 ).
– Bergen International Festival is a cornerstone in Nordic music life , celebrating the past , present , and future of the arts . To me it is inspiring to be given prominence as Festival Composer and Artist in Residence , says Kaija Saariaho .
Supported by FINNO , The Norwegian- Finnish Cultural Foundation , The Sibelius Society of Norway and The Finnish- Norwegian Cultural Foundation .
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