Visions, Narratives, Dialogues

Kaija Saariaho is internationally recognized as a leading figure in contemporary music, enjoying a well-deserved reputation for works that are both creatively original and of considerable appeal. Her music communicates with a refreshingly broad audience, and this special achievement deserves careful consideration. In the first symposium book in English to be dedicated exclusively to this single figure, scholars from both the UK and Saariaho’s native Finland bring a range of perspectives to her richly varied output. Uncovering the compositional, historical, cultural and sociological issues that have resulted in such critical acclaim lies at the heart of this collection of essays.

Visions, Narratives, Dialogues by Tim Howell with Jon Hargreaves and Michael Rofe is now available to purchase. The title is derived from the grouping of the essays into three strands – ‘visions’, ‘narratives’ and ‘dialogues’. These essays reflect the wide range of Saariaho’s creative preoccupations while subscribing to a carefully structured succession of commentaries.