Kaija Saariaho: Artist-in-Residence, Bergen International Festival
7th October 2016
Speaking about working with the composers over the coming years, festival director Anders Beyer comments, ‘We are very proud to present these three giants in their field as festival composers, and look forward to creating musical portraits of them.’ Similarly enthusiastic about her involvement, Saariaho says she is inspired by the appointment: ‘the festival is a cornerstone of Nordic music, which celebrates art's past, present and future.’
Bergen Festival 2017 celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of Finland by focusing on the work of ‘Finnish music’s First Lady’. There will be a multitude of performances of Saariaho’s work from right across her catalogue: orchestral, chamber and opera. Her compositions will also form a central part in the festival's closing concert. In addition to this, she will also hold lectures, introductions before a number of concerts, and take part in the festival's debate programme.
Three concerts for the 2017 festival have been announced thus far. The chamber version of Saariaho’s La Passion de Simone will be performed at the Cornerteateret, Bergen on May 31, presented by the festival and BIT20. Jakob Kullberg (cello) and Aliisa Barrière (violin) will give the world premiere of the full version of Concordia at Håkonshallen, 30 May. Peter Herresthal and the London Sinfonietta will perform Saariaho’s violin concerto, Graal Théâtre, in the same venue on June 2 (a work they will perform again at St. John Smith’s Square, London on June 6 after the festival closes).
For more information about the festival and to book tickets visit www.fib.no
