Credits:

Saariaho, Kaija (1952-)

Description:

This is a collection of works for cello by Kaija Saariaho (b.1952), a leading contemporary Finnish female composer who is widely known in Japan, including as a juror for the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award in 2014. Focusing on the color, intensity, and dynamics of sound, Saariaho sometimes incorporates electronics, inviting the listener into an intimate sound space closely connected to nature and other living things, just like her. The performance is by Joanna Gutowska, who has been a cellist since the age of 12 and has performed with renowned orchestras and at major music festivals. She has such a deep understanding of Saariaho's music that she chose his works as the subject of her doctoral dissertation. Tokyo M-Plus