Kaija Saariaho

Kaija Anneli Saariaho was a renowned Finnish composer based in Paris, France. Born on 14 October 1952 in Helsinki, Saariaho was recognized for her work with electronic music and her contributions to contemporary classical music. She studied composition in Helsinki, Freiburg, and Paris, and her work was influenced by spectral music, a turning point that occurred during her research at IRCAM in Paris. Saariaho received notable commissions throughout her career and was appreciated for her rich, polyphonic textures and the integration of live music with electronics. She passed away on 2 June 2023 in Paris after a battle with glioblastoma.