Reconnaissance: Kaija Saariaho Choral Music

by Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek

Overview

This release followed closely on the death of composer Kaija Saariaho in 2023, and the physical version includes worthwhile notes from her and her son, Aleksi Barriere. Saariaho is known for large orchestral works with fine gradations rather than for choral music, but in her note, she states that she has always had an inclination toward the latter genre. These are engaging works, and the involvement of her son, who wrote the text to the title work, makes the album all the more to be treasured as a memento of this important composer. Sample the eight-movement work that opens the program, Nuits, adieux, which is repeated at the end without its light layer of electronics. This is for four solo voices (with some of the texts by, of all people, Honore de Balzac), but Saariaho exploits the minimal resources so as to provide a range of textures approaching that of her larger works. The singers, in addition to vocal lines, provide hisses, indistinct chatter, and gasps. Considerable virtuosity is required from the singers, and the members of the Helsinki Chamber Choir step up. The title work, described by Saariaho's son as a science fiction madrigal (and there are no electronics here, despite the futuristic element), is in English and contains strong environmental overtones, ending with a prayer-like requiem. Tag des Jahr, to texts by Friedrich Hoelderlin, would make an offbeat entry on Four Seasons programs. For those new to Saariaho, this album could even serve as a good introduction to her music, presenting her ideas in small-scale forms. BIS situations the music in a somewhat overresonant church, but this does bring out the small vocal details that are at the heart of these works. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	07/07/2023
Label:	BIS
UPC:	7318599926629

Tracks

1. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~1. Nuit I
2. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~2. Adieu I
3. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~3. Nuit II
4. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~4. Adieu II
5. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~5. Nuit III
6. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~6. Nuit IV
7. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~7. Nuit V
8. Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~8. Adieu III - V
9. Horloge, tais-toi for female choir and piano
10. Écho! for eight voices and electronics~1. Dolce energico
11. Écho! for eight voices and electronics~2. Calmo, espressivo
12. Écho! for eight voices and electronics~3. Libero, intenso
13. Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~1. Der Frühling
14. Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~2. Der Sommer
15. Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~3. Der Herbst
16. Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~4. Der Winter
17. Überzeugung for three female voices, crotales, violin and cello
18. Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~1. The First Martian in a Long Time
19. Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~2. Count Down
20. Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~Interlude
21. Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~3. Green House
22. Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~4. Desert People
23. Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~5. Requiem
24. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~1. Nuit I
25. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~2. Adieu I
26. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~3. Nuit II
27. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~4. Adieu II
28. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~5. Nuit III
29. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~6. Nuit IV
30. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~7. Nuit V
31. Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~8. Adieu III-V

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Helsinki Chamber Choir   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
Nils Schweckendiek   Primary Artist,Conductor
David Hackston   Counter Tenor (Vocal)
Riku Laurikka   Bass (Vocal)
Keri Kallio   Vocals
Anna Kuvaja   Piano
Eira Karlson   Vocals
Sampo Haapaniemi   Bass (Vocal)
Timo Kurkikangas   Electronics
Mats Lillhannus   Tenor (Vocal)
Uusinta Chamber Ensemble   Ensemble
Julia Heeger   Soprano (Vocal)
Jussi Linnanmaeki   Bass (Vocal)
Linnea Sundfaer Casserly   Soprano (Vocal)
Martti Anttila   Tenor (Vocal)
Eleriin Mueueripeal   Alto (Vocals)
Emma Suszko   Vocals

Technical Credits

Jean-Pascal Vachon   Liner Note Translation
Andrew Barnett   Typesetting
Kaija Saariaho   Composer,Liner Notes
Robert Suff   Executive Producer
Jaakko Maentyjaervi   Text Translation
Horst A. Scholz   Liner Note Translation
Honore de Balzac   Text
Friedrich Holderlin   Text
Jacques Roubaud   Text
Maarit Kytoeharju   Photography
Hans Kipfer   Engineer,Producer,Post Production Mix,Post Production Editor
Leif Hasselgren   Text Translation
Aleksi Barriere   Text,Liner Notes,Cover Collage,Text Translation
Martti Anttila   Photography,Technical Support
Joel Ward   Technical Support