Based on Kaija Saariaho’s Offrande, which cellist Anssi Karttunen and organist Olivier Latry played at the inauguration of the new organ at Helsinki Musiikkitalo, the two artists are launching a project with newly commissioned works for cello and organ in memory of Kaija Saariaho.
Kaija Saariaho had a very close relationship with the organ. She studied the instrument herself and, before deciding to become a composer, had even thought of becoming a church organist. She wrote an organ concerto, Maan Varjot, for Olivier Latry, and made a major donation to the Musiikkitalo in Helsinki towards building the concert hall organ, which was inaugurated in January 2024 thanks to her support. The cello was the instrument Kaija Saariaho most often wrote for as a solo instrument and in chamber music, largely thanks to her close friendship with Anssi Karttunen. She wrote Offrande for cello and organ as a wedding present for Anssi Karttunen’s daughter, Marianna Karttunen. Offrande was the first piece performed in the inaugural concert of the Musiikkitalo organ on 1 January 2024.
Memorial Commissions for Kaija Saariaho
Anssi Karttunen – Olivier Latry
Concept
Although both the organ and cello have extensive solo repertoires, there is practically no existing repertoire for them together apart from Kaija Saariaho’s Offrande. In her memory, Anssi Karttunen and Olivier Latry have created a project to commission new duos for cello and organ. An impressive and diverse list of eighteen internationally celebrated composers, all friends of Kaija Saariaho, have promised to write new works for them. The artists wish to establish a commissioning fund in Kaija Saariaho’s memory to honour her and to create a lasting repertoire for this rarely explored combination. Many new concert halls have built great organs, but few have recital series that include the organ alongside other instruments. One aim of this project is to encourage such concert halls to create new series.
The first nine commissioned works will be premiered at the Musiikkitalo in Helsinki on 10 November 2025, and the remaining nine at the Maison de la Radio in Paris on 28 November 2026. In Paris, an educational element will be added, with the “Helsinki” pieces performed by students from the CNSM Conservatory of Paris. Once premiered, all the new works will be available for touring.
The composers participating in this project:
Helsinki, 10 November 2025
Julian Anderson: Chants
Betsy Jolas: This is love
John Paul Jones: The Call
George Lewis: Différance
Magnus Lindberg: Voie
Outi Tarkiainen: Majakka
Jukka Tiensuu: Loistoon
Helena Tulve: I touched her shadow when the light delayed
Lotta Wennäkoski: Signes
Helsinki Concert – Kaija Saariaho: Memorial Pieces for Cello and Organ
Paris, 28 November 2026
Zosha di Castri: New piece
Chaya Czernowin: New piece
Pascal Dusapin: New piece
Francesco Filidei: New piece
Luca Francesconi: New piece
Thomas Lacôte: New piece
Esa-Pekka Salonen: New piece
Augusta Read Thomas: New piece
Mioko Yokoyama: New piece
Cast
Anssi Karttunen
Anssi Karttunen has always been on the cutting edge of classical music performance and is one of the most innovative cellists in today’s international music scene. He started learning the cello as a 4-year-old in Finland, a uniquely fertile ground for music and musicians, and subsequently built up a worldwide reputation both as a soloist and chamber musician. In his repertoire, he takes a fresh look at the well-known masterpieces and brings forgotten works to the public ear, as well as making own original transcriptions. He plays on modern, classical, and baroque cellos, as well as violoncello piccolo and electric cello. The latter features prominently in his current solo projects, which include images, video and electronics.