Saariaho was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, in February 2021, but the illness was not made public at the time. She was 70 at the time of her death.
[L’Amour de loin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjACYQ8B9Yc), trailer from the Metropolitan Opera, directed for the stage by Robert Lepage. Saariaho was the first woman composer to have her work performed by the Met in over a hundred years in 2016. L’Amour de Loin was her international breakthrough, premiered at the Salzburg Festival in 2000 and performed all over after that.
I wondered why I have not heard about her. Then I listened to her music and found why.
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Saariaho was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, in February 2021, but the illness was not made public at the time. She was 70 at the time of her death.
Saariaho was ranked 17th greatest composer of all time in a BBC poll of top composers in 2019. She was the highest-ranking living person on the list. [Reddit thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/comments/qxtdcs/kaija_saariaho_is_the_greatest_living_composer_in/).
Some listening on Youtube:
[Six Japanese Gardens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQLA4cUv1IQ) (1994) for percussion and electronics
[Sept Papillons](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QcMZh0eLRw) (2000) for solo cello
[L’Aile du songe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP0jgLvpXE0) (2001) for flute and orchestra
[Orion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZO3n7KQUjA) (2002) for orchestra
[L’Amour de loin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjACYQ8B9Yc), trailer from the Metropolitan Opera, directed for the stage by Robert Lepage. Saariaho was the first woman composer to have her work performed by the Met in over a hundred years in 2016. L’Amour de Loin was her international breakthrough, premiered at the Salzburg Festival in 2000 and performed all over after that.
I wondered why I have not heard about her. Then I listened to her music and found why.
Tremendous composer. Her legacy will live on.