Reconnaissance – Kaija Saariaho’s choral works by Various, Aπό (2022/2022), αγωγός Nils Schweckendiek, Temppeliaukio Church, Helsinki, Finland

Kaija Saariaho turns 70 this year, and while audiences at the Helsinki Festival won’t be treated to a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’, the event will be marked with a different kind of sing-along when the Helsinki Chamber Choir performs all Saariaho’s a cappella pieces in the Temppeliaukio Church. It will also be the Finnish premiere of her most recent: Reconnaissance. Saariaho was named ‘the best living composer in the world’ in a survey of contemporary composers conducted by BBC Music Magazine. The performers and setting for the celebration will be worthy of her music – a top choir of dedicated professionals and a venue cut into solid rock that’s like an instrument in itself. The performance of the choral works will coincide with the Night of the Arts, and aptly so: this will be a celebration of both artist and arts. Helsinki Chamber Choir Uusinta Ensemble Nils Schweckendiek, director Linnéa Sundfaer Casserly and Julia Heéger, soprano Eleriin Müüripeal and David Hackston, alto Martti Anttila and Mats Lillhannus, tenor Sampo Haapaniemi and Jussi Linnanmäki, bass Anna Kuvaja, piano Timo Kurkikangas, elektroniikka Uusinta Ensemble: I-Han Fu, percussions Aleksi Kotila, violin Joasia Cieślak, cello Eero Marttila, bass Programme: Nuits, adieux – original version for 4 soloists and electronics Text: Jacques Roubaud / Honoré de Balzac Écho for 8 soloists and electronics Text: Aleksi Barrière Tag des Jahrs for choir and electronics Text: Friedrich Hölderlin — Nuits, adieux – a cappella version Text: Jacques Roubaud / Honoré de Balzac Überzeugung for female voices, crotale, violin and cello Text: Friedrich Hölderlin Horloge, tais-toi! for SA chorus and piano Text: Aleksi Barrière Reconnaissance for choir, percussion and double bass Text: Aleksi Barrière