Concerts with works by

Kaija Saariaho

her:voice

This year's "her:voice" Composer Festival focuses on Alma Mahler, whose "Five Songs" will be performed in Jorma Panula's orchestral version. While Mahler's husband Gustav allegedly restricted her compositions, Charlotte Sohy published under the male pseudonym Charles. Sohy's late-Romantic symphony, begun during World War I, expresses a desire for peace. The program includes Kaija Saariaho's "Winter Sky" and Anna Clyne's "Color Field," inspired by a Rothko painting.

her:voice

This year's "her:voice" Composer Festival focuses on Alma Mahler, whose "Five Songs" will be performed in Jorma Panula's orchestral version. While Mahler's husband Gustav allegedly restricted her compositions, Charlotte Sohy published under the male pseudonym Charles. Sohy's late-Romantic symphony, begun during World War I, expresses a desire for peace. The program includes Kaija Saariaho's "Winter Sky" and Anna Clyne's "Color Field," inspired by a Rothko painting.

QUATUOR DIOTIMA

In honor of Kaija Saariaho, the leading Finnish composer of the 20th and 21st centuries who died in June 2023, Quatuor Diotima has chosen her Second String Quartet Terra Memoria as the centerpiece of its program. Written in 2006, the work is dedicated “to those departed” and their memory. The four musicians also perform music by Benjamin Britten and Arnold Schoenberg.

Orchestre de Paris / Holly Hyun Choe

The vibrant classicism of Strauss, the leaping energy of a Bernstein more “Broadway” than ever, the serenity of Saariaho and the most jolly of Shostakovich’s Symphonies... a program with four faces of joy.

Schumann's second symphony

Full of inspiration, Robert Schumann began work on his second symphony in early December 1845. However, his depressions, poor health, and constant tinnitus meant that it wasn't until the following autumn that the symphony was completed. Yet, his severe personal condition has not left its mark on the music at all; instead, the symphony is bright and forward-looking, a resounding triumph over the darker aspects of life.The concert begins with the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho's hypnotically evocative Ciel d’hiver, Winter Sky – an arrangement of a part of her orchestral work Orion. The music is inspired by the Greek myth of the hunter Orion, who was transformed into a constellation. Saariaho's music possesses a strange beauty that makes her unique, and she is considered one of the most significant composers of our time. Saariaho passed away in 2023, and ten years earlier, she was awarded the Polar Music Prize.Learn more about Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft

Sibelius and Schumann

Sibelius' Violin Concerto is one of the most performed violin concertos of the 20th century. However, its tonal language belongs to the late 19th century, and the music is warm and lyrical, dramatic and melancholic. Sibelius, himself a violinist, possibly wrote the concerto he himself would have wanted to play – albeit on a technical level far beyond his own. It is among the more challenging in the genre, as many violinists have attested.Taking on the challenge is the Russian-born Israeli violinist Maxim Vengerov, one of the greats of our time, who has only performed with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra once before, and that was 30 years ago! He is ranked among the world's finest, and in addition to performing concerts on the major classical stages, he is a guest professor at both the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland and the Royal College of Music in London.Full of inspiration, Robert Schumann began work on his second symphony in early December 1845. However, his depressions, poor health, and constant tinnitus meant that it wasn't until the following autumn that the symphony was completed. Yet, his severe personal condition has not left its mark on the music at all; instead, the symphony is bright and forward-looking: a resounding triumph over the darker aspects of life.The concert begins with the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho's hypnotically evocative Ciel d’hiver, Winter Sky – an arrangement of a part of her orchestral work Orion. The music is inspired by the Greek myth of the hunter Orion, who was transformed into a constellation. Saariaho's music possesses a strange beauty that makes her unique, and she is considered one of the most significant composers of our time. Saariaho passed away in 2023, and ten years earlier, she was awarded the Polar Music Prize.Learn more about Chief Conductor Ryan Bancroft

Bas Wiegers dirigiert Werke von LutosŁawski, Saariaho und Debussy

Nachthelle

ACHT BRÜCKEN opens its 15th edition Music for Cologne with a four-part festive evening dedicated to outstanding actors of new music from Cologne. Reinforced by top-class guests, also from the independent Cologne scene, the percussionist Rie Watanabe and her ensemble DEHIO have developed a program around the contrasts of light and darkness. In Kaija Saariaho's idiosyncratic »Ciel étoilé« deep double bass sounds may represent the night sky; Cymbals and crotales sprinkle it with their accents like twinkling stars. Johannes Fritsch's piece »Nachthelle«, which shares its title with an ensemble song by Franz Schubert, seems related in terms of content. The string instruments involved tune their outer strings so low that their muffled, noisy sounds enter into an exciting interplay with the bright, open tones of the normally tuned middle strings.The two night pieces are framed by two other poetically inspired works. In the case of Farzia Fallah's »at the same moment,« the performance instructions already seem like little poems: there is talk of the »proper time« of the sounder, of »silently beautiful« lying sounds and a »moment of the standing now.« Kaija Saariaho, on the other hand, borrowed her work title »Terrestre« from the poetry collection »Oiseaux« by Saint-John Perse. Like a bird, the solo flute seems to rise above everything earthly. Funded by the Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes NRW

Changing Light

The flute and soprano voices are sisters – not only in spirit, but also because of their sound characteristics. Camilla Hoitenga and Anna Herbst provide tangible proof of this with the program »Changing Light«. Over the course of her career, Camilla Hoitenga – born in Michigan/USA in 1954 – has worked closely with Kaija Saariaho for decades and (premiered) numerous of her works, including »Dolce Tormento«. Here, the beguiling piccolo flute merges with Francesco Petrarch's Sonnet 132, an idealization of the feminine presented in sections by the instrumentalist. What happens in »Dolce Tormento« in personal union, Saariaho breaks down accordingly in »Changing Light« (version for soprano and flute): While the expressive voice recites an evening prayer by the American Rabbi Jules Harlow, the versatile flute playing conjures up a light-dark dualism inherent in the text. This also includes Malika Kishino's »Monochrome Garden VIII« for alto flute, in which the light reflections of Japanese gardens and creatures buzzing around become the musical driving force. Funded by the Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes NRW

Bas Wiegers dirigiert Werke von LutosŁawski, Saariaho und Debussy

Nymphéa

»My goal is (…) to create music in which clear, delicate textures and violent, shattering masses of sound come together.« This year's portrait composer Kaija Saariaho describes the images that accompanied her while working on her work »Nymphéa« for string quartet and electronics: »a one-dimensional surface with its colors,« »various materials that you can touch,« »a white water lily that feeds on the underwater mud.« This type of sensual approach is best understood when the eye is not too distracted. The final concert of the opening day with the highly acclaimed Cologne Asasello Quartet will therefore take place largely in the dark – only illuminated by the musicians' iPads.In his »Black Angels« George Crumb describes a journey of the soul in three stages: departure, absence and return. And in Gérard Pesson's idiomatic string quartet version of Alexander Sjrkabin's "»Black Mass«, the musicians wrestle interpretively with their own inner demons. Funded by the Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes NRW

Solo für Kinder: Die Trompete

On May 10th and 11th, ACHT BRÜCKEN | Musik für Köln invites children aged 5 and up to "Solo für Kinder." In this mini-concert, musicians introduce an instrument and its sounds in 30 minutes. Experience familiar and new timbres and playing techniques. The event is presented in partnership with Stadtentwässerungsbetriebe Köln and supported by the Brigitte-Wagner-Halswick-Stiftung.

Solo for children: The violine

On May 10th and 11th, ACHT BRÜCKEN | Musik für Köln invites children aged 5 and up to "Solo für Kinder." In this mini-concert, musicians introduce an instrument and its sounds in 30 minutes. Experience familiar and new timbres and playing techniques. The event is presented in partnership with Stadtentwässerungsbetriebe Köln and supported by the Brigitte-Wagner-Halswick-Stiftung.

Musik der Zeit – Mann/Frau/Einhorn/Seen

Writer Händl Klaus and composer Hèctor Parra present "A Song of the Earth" for our time. Olivia and Bruno journey through a desolate landscape, their sung and spoken words forming a dialogue about loss, love, and life. Kaija Saariaho's clarinet concerto, inspired by medieval tapestries, features a soloist who metaphorically "walks" through the concert hall. The WDR will broadcast the concert on June 3, 2025, with online availability for 30 days thereafter.

Carolin Widmann | SWR Symphonieorchester | Bas Wiegers

To explore sound's intricacies, Kaija Saariaho put it "under the microscope." The SWR Symphony Orchestra, with violinist Carolin Widmann, honors the late Finnish composer. Saariaho's early work "Verblendungen" intertwines orchestra and tape. Her violin concerto "Graal théâtre" draws inspiration from the Holy Grail legend. The concert opens with Lutosławski's lively "Little Suite" and concludes with Debussy's "La Mer."

Bas Wiegers dirigiert Werke von Lutosławski, Sariaaho und Debussy

Terra memoria

The internationally acclaimed Kuss Quartet performs a concert featuring contrasting elements. The program includes a revised version of Mark Andres' "Seven Pieces for String Quartet," Kaija Saariaho's "Terra memoria," Francisco Coll's "Códices," and the world premiere of Mauro Montalbetti's "Tactus." These pieces explore themes of fading, memory, and traditional songs, blending instrumental and vocal gestures. The concert is recorded by WDR and will be broadcast on June 5, 2025.

SWR Symphonieorchester | Abokonzert 8

Works by Lutosławski, Saariaho, and Debussy performed by Carolin Widmann (violin) and the SWR Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bas Wiegers. The program includes Lutosławski's "Little Suite", Saariaho's "Graal théâtre" and "Verblendungen", and Debussy's "La mer". A pre-concert talk starts at 7 pm.

ins Licht

Georg Friedrich Haas uses light as a musical instrument, incorporating light effects into his works, such as his third string quartet, performed in darkness. Trio Phanos plays Haas's "Ins Licht," inviting listeners to experience one rendition with closed eyes. Marina Khorkova's new work explores light, while Kaija Saariaho's piano trio "Light and Matter" reflects the changing light in a New York park. Dieter Amman's "après le silence" follows a period of artistic silence. The concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science of NRW and recorded by WDR.

Lichtbogen

This year's central artistic portrait is dedicated to the internationally acclaimed composer Kaija Saariaho. Her main work, "Lichtbogen" (1985-86), utilizes instrumentation and electronics, creating effects from shimmer to laser beams. The festival also honors Pierre Boulez's 100th birthday with a performance of his rare "sur Incises."

Lumière et Pesanteur

Kaija Saariaho arranged the eighth station of her oratorio "La passion de Simone" about the life of Simone Weil as an independent orchestral miniature. "Lumière et pesanteur" plays with light and gravity while trumpet solos meet celestial celesta sounds. Caspar Johannes Walter's "Gekrümmte Räume" explores relativity, higher dimensions, and black holes, questioning if similar phenomena to mathematics and cosmology can exist in music.

La Passion de Simone

Kaija Saariaho's opera "La Passion de Simone" commemorates the French philosopher and mystic Simone Weil. This personal work, which Saariaho considered her musical testament, marks her third collaboration with author Amin Maalouf and director Peter Sellars. The opera, originally premiered in Vienna in 2006, is now presented at the Cologne Opera, directed by newcomer Friederike Blum and conducted by Christian Karlsen. Further performances are scheduled for May 19, 25, 28, and 31, 2025, as a collaboration between the Cologne Opera and the ACHT BRÜCKEN | Musik für Köln festival.