Prominent Composer Kaija Saariaho Passes Away at 70

According to her family, she died in Paris at the age of 70. Saariaho is considered one of the most performed composers of our time. After studying violin, piano and painting in Helsinki, she studied composition in Freiburg. At the Paris research institute for acoustics and music IRCAM, she began mixing electronic and acoustic sounds and experimenting with computer programs. In total, Saariaho created more than a hundred works. Her operas have been shown at major festivals such as the Salzburg Festival. She has received numerous awards, including a Grammy and the Polar Music Prize. In 2021 she received the Golden Lion at the Venice Music Biennale for her life’s work.

This message was broadcast on Deutschlandfunk on June 3rd, 2023.