Kaija Saariaho: Lullaby for cello solo (2020) @anssivk

anssivk Anssi Karttunen, cello

This is the first performance - in confinement - of Kaija Saariaho's Lullaby for solo cello. She wrote the piece as a reaction of the sudden passing of our friend Oliver Knussen. Olly wrote a Tarantella for her 50th birthday and she uses material from that little piece as a dialogue with her own music.

The first performance of this piece was programmed for the Big Ears festival on the 26th of March 2020. Unfortunately the festival had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since Kaija had several other important premieres cancelled on account of the virus - the orchestral piece Vista and the opera Innocence - I felt that Lullaby should not also remain unheard. It is a particularly fitting piece for this moment.

Anssi Karttunen
25th March, 2020, Paris

Remembering Olly playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3aR3IWihrh7hQ-VV74xhqniaR813lAIJ

www.karttunen.org
facebook.com/anssikarttunen.cello

#lullaby #kaijasaariaho #oliverknussen

updated 4 years ago

Kaija Saariaho: Lullaby for cello solo (2020)

anssivk 2020-04-25 | Anssi Karttunen, cello

This is the first performance - in confinement - of Kaija Saariaho's Lullaby for solo cello. She wrote the piece as a reaction of the sudden passing of our friend Oliver Knussen. Olly wrote a Tarantella for her 50th birthday and she uses material from that little piece as a dialogue with her own music.

The first performance of this piece was programmed for the Big Ears festival on the 26th of March 2020. Unfortunately the festival had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since Kaija had several other important premieres cancelled on account of the virus - the orchestral piece Vista and the opera Innocence - I felt that Lullaby should not also remain unheard. It is a particularly fitting piece for this moment.

Anssi Karttunen
25th March, 2020, Paris

Remembering Olly playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3aR3IWihrh7hQ-VV74xhqniaR813lAIJ

www.karttunen.org
facebook.com/anssikarttunen.cello

#lullaby #kaijasaariaho #oliverknussen

Bela Bartok (transcription Anssi Karttunen) For Children, for oboe quartet

anssivk 2024-10-13 | Béla Bartók (transcription Anssi Karttunen): For Children - selections
Nicholas Daniel, oboe
Shannon Lee, violin
Steven Dann, viola
Anssi Karttunen, cello

1 Children at play
3 Former friends
4 Pillow dance
5 Play
6 Country Dance
8 Children's game
10 Children's Dance
11 Me and the Rain
12 Ballad
14 To cook a Goose
17 The Young Bride
18 Soldier's song
20 Cheers
21 Vigoroso
26 Dance with me
28 Choral
31 Light the Way to my Love
32 Evening Kiss
36 Drunkard's Song
40 Swine-Herd's Dance

recorded at the opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
19th of August, 2024 at Château de la Jaillière

Antti Auvinen: Overcrank-suite for cello and video

anssivk 2024-09-30 | Anssi Karttunen, cello

Recorded September 14th 2024
Recording: Timo Kurkikangas
Concert video: Harri Järvinen
Mixing of concert footage with Overcrank video: Anssi Karttunen

Magnus Lindberg: Stroke, for cello

anssivk 2024-09-10 | David Liam Roberts, cello

recorded 25.8.2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil

Betsy Jolas: Remember for cor anglais and cello

anssivk 2024-09-10 | Katherine Farnden, cor anglais
Ània Custodio Folch, cello

recorded 25.8.2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil

Kaija Saariaho: Aure for violin and viola

anssivk 2024-09-10 | Olga Melby Larsson, violin
Charlie Picone, viola

recorded 25.8.2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil

Creative Dialogue France Ensemble: Improvisation 2.0.2.4

anssivk 2024-09-10 | Katherine Farnden, cor anglais
Junlin Zhou, Richard Lines-Davies, oboes
Olga Melby Larsson, Robert Mulchrone, violins
Mary Deck, Charlie Picone, violas
Ània Custodio Folch, David Liam Roberts, cellos
and Julian Anderson

recorded 25.8.2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil

Oliver Knussen: Cantata

anssivk 2024-09-08 | 1st half:
Junlin Zhou, oboe
Olga Melby Larsson, violin
Mary Deck, viola
David Liam Roberts, cello
2nd half:
Richard Lines-Davies, oboe
Robert Mulchrone, violin
Charlie Picone, viola
Ània Custodio Folch, cello

recorded 25.8.2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, France

Yotham Ben Yami: Fractured Fairytales

anssivk 2024-09-06 | Katherine Farnden, cor anglais
Junlin Zhou, Richard Lines-Davies, oboes
Olga Melby Larsson, Robert Mulchrone, violins
Mary Deck, Charlie Picone, violas
Ània Custodio Folch, David Liam Roberts, cellos

recorded 25.8.2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil

Pascal Dusapin: Ohimé, pour violon et alto

anssivk 2024-09-06 | Pascal Dusapin: Ohimé, pour violon et alto

Robert Mulchrone, violin
Mary Deck, viola

recorded 25-8-2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent-le -Vieil

Pasquale Punzo: Tremalume

anssivk 2024-09-06 | Pasquale Punzo: Tremalume for oboe and string quartet

Junlin Zhou, oboe
Robert Mulchrone, violin
Olga Melby Larsson, violin
Mary Deck, viola
David Liam Roberts, cello

recorded 25.8.2024 at Creative Dialogue France IV final concert
Saint-Florent le -Vieil

Clément Pauvert: Main votive (bronze, IIIe-IVe siècles)

anssivk 2024-09-06 | Clément Pauvert: Main votive (bronze, IIIe-IVe siècles) for oboe and string trio
Richard Lines-Davies, oboe
Olga Melby Larsson, violin
Charlie Picone, viola
Ània Custodio Folch, cello

recorded at the Creative Dialogue France IV 25.8.2024
Saint-Florent-le-Vieil

Sønderho Bridal Suite, for oboe quartet

anssivk 2024-09-04 | Nicholas Daniel, oboe
Shannon Lee, violin
Steven Dann, violin
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Folk melodies from Sønderho island in Denmark and Faroe islands.

recorded at the opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
19th of August, 2024 at Château de la Jaillière

Robert Schumann (transcr. Colin Matthews) Mondnacht, for Oboe Quartet

anssivk 2024-09-03 | Nicholas Daniel, oboe
Shannon Lee, violin
Steven Dann, viola
Anssi Karttunen, cello

recorded at the opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
19th of August, 2024 at Château de la Jaillière

Betsy Jolas: Remember for cor anglais and cello

anssivk 2024-09-02 | Nicholas Daniel, cor anglais
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
Château de la Jaillière 19th August 2024

W. A. Mozart (completed by Nicholas Daniel) : Adagio K. 580

anssivk 2024-09-02 | Nicholas Daniel, cor anglais
Shannon Lee, violin
Steven Dann, viola
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
Château de la Jaillière 19th August 2024

Magnus Lindberg: Espressione III (Con Amore) for violin solo

anssivk 2024-09-02 | Shannon Lee, violin

recorded at Opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
Château de la Jaillière 19th August 2024

Magnus Lindberg: Fanfare for Victoria for oboe

anssivk 2024-09-02 | Nicholas Daniel, oboe

Opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
Château de la Jaillière 19th August 2024

Luca Ricci: Intus (2024) for oboe, viola and cello

anssivk 2024-09-02 | Luca Ricci: Intus (2024) for oboe, viola and cello

Nicholas Daniel, oboe
Steven Dann, viola
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Opening concert of Creative Dialogue France IV
Château de la Jaillière 19th August 2024

Denis Cohen: Hybrid (2022) pour clarinette et violoncelle

anssivk 2024-07-16 | Chen Halevi, clarinet
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Recorded at the opening concert of the Creative Dialogue 2024
on the 30th of June 2024 at the Wanantaka Manor, Finland

Dachan Kim, Philip Dutton, Nastaran Yazdani, Julian Anderson: Wedding Anniversary Suite

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Dachan Kim: Worth the Travel
Philip Dutton: Haiku
Nastaran Yazdani: Intertwined in Each Other's Embrace
Julian Anderson: Together (with cranes)

Anssi Karttunen, cello
Chen Halevi, clarinet
and
Jonas von Au, Lovisa Ehrenkrona, Ciara McGuire, Yuwa Roten, Tilman Sandvoss, Philemon Hahn, Sophie Kauer, Sabina Sandvoss

Written for and performed on the 25th wedding anniversary of Maire Gullichsen and Carl Gustaf Ehrnrooth.

Recorded at the opening concert of the Creative Dialogue 2024 on the 30th of June at the Wanantaka Manor, Finland

Julian Anderson: Scherzo (With Trains) (1989-1993)

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Julian Anderson: Scherzo (With Trains) for clarinet quartet
Jonas von Au, clarinet, bass hor
Britt Sairanen, clarinet, bassett horn
Sonja Lankinen, clarinet
Chen Halevi, clarinet

Recorded at the final concert of Creative Dialogue 2024
at Vanha Kirkko, Helsinki. 7th July, 2024

Yuto Obata: The edge of words

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Sonja Lankinen, clarinet
Ciara McGuire, violin
Yuwa Roten, violin
Tilman Sandvoss, viola
Philemon Hahn, viola
Sabine Sandvoss, cello
Sophie Kahn, cello
conducted by Anssi Karttunen

Recorded at the final concert of Creative Dialogue 2024
at Vanha Kirkko, Helsinki. 7th July, 2024

Creative Dialogue 2024 Ensemble: Improvisation

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Creative Dialogue Ensemble:

Jonas von Au
Britt Sairanen
Sonja Lankinen
Yuwa Roten
Ciara McGuire
Tilman Sandvoss
Philemon Hahn
Sabine Sandvoss
Sophie Kahn
Julian Anderson
Artun Çekem
Samin Moradi Fard
Yuto Obata

Recorded at the final concert of Creative Dialogue 2024
at Vanha Kirkko, Helsinki. 7th July, 2024

Artun Çekem: Soup-Like Homogenate

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Britt Sairanen, clarinet
Sonja Lankinen, bass clarinet
Jonas von Au, contrabass clarinet
Yuwa Roten, violin
Tilman Sandvoss, viola
Sophie Kahn, cello

Recorded at the final concert of Creative Dialogue 2024
at Vanha Kirkko, Helsinki. 7th July, 2024

Samin Moradi Fard: Sobh-e dir Safar

anssivk 2024-07-14 | SAMIN MORADI FARD: Sobh-e dir Safar, for clarinet, bass clarinet, viola and two cellos

Jonas von Au, clarinet
Britt Sairanen, bass clarinet
Philemon Hahn, viola
Sabine Sandvoss, cello
Sophie Kahn, cello

Recorded at the final concert of Creative Dialogue 2024
at Vanha Kirkko, Helsinki. 7th July, 2024

Julian Anderson: Mime for clarinet (2020)

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Sonja Lankinen, clarinet
Jonas von Au, clarinet
Britt Sairanen, clarinet

Recorded at the final concert of Creative Dialogue 2024
at Vanha Kirkko, Helsinki. 7th July, 2024

Sven-Ingo Koch: Libelle. Zwiebel. Ständchen. für 2 Klarinetten

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Chen Halevi, clarinet
Jonas von Au: clarinet

Recorded at the opening concert of the Creative Dialogue 2024 on the 30th of June at the Wanantaka Manor, Finland

Magnus Lindberg: Steamboat Bill Jr. for clarinet and cello

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Chen Halevi, clarinet
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Recorded at the opening concert of the Creative Dialogue 2024 on the 30th of June at the Wanantaka Manor, Finland

Denis Cohen: Hybrid (2022) pour clarinette et violoncelle

anssivk 2024-07-14 | Chen Halevi, clarinet
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Recorded at the opening concert of the Creative Dialogue 2024 on the 30th of June at the Wanantaka Manor, Finland

Arlene Elizabeth Sierra: Whitman Fragment (2024) for cello

anssivk 2024-06-16 | Anssi Karttunen, cello

Arlene Elizabeth Sierra: Whitman Fragment (2024) for cello
written for Anssi Karttunen, in memoriam Oliver Knussen

Recorded at the world premiere in Saint-Georges-en-Beauce, Quebec
June 15th 2024

Kenneth Hesketh: Athene Noctua (2024) for cello

anssivk 2024-05-09 | Anssi Karttunen, cello
recorded at the first performance on the 21st of March 2024
at the Big Ears festival

images, videos: Muriel von Braun, Anssi Karttunen
video editing: Anssi Karttunen

Who was Olly playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3aR3IWihrh7hQ-VV74xhqniaR813lAIJ&si=h-dUGOCQ75MTVCPP

Kaija Saariaho: Etincelles (2008) for cello solo

anssivk 2024-04-16 | Anssi Karttunen, cello

Etincelles is based on material from the second movement - On Fire - of Notes on Light for cello and orchestra. It was written as a 30th birthday greeting for the French cellist Alexis Descharmes.

Images: Muriel von Braun
Recording: Matti Heinonen/Pro Audile

Kaija Saariaho: Offrande (2014) for cello and organ

anssivk 2024-01-02 | Kaija Saariaho: Offrande (2014) for cello and organ
Anssi Karttunen, cello
Olivier Latry, organ

Pour Marianna et Nicolas le 26 juillet 2014

Tenero, calmo - Poco esitante - Più coraggiosamente - Più dolce - Più energico, molto espressivo - Calando - Dolce, calmo - Espressivo, curioso - Intenso - Dolce, calmo - Più energico, felice - Dolce, con amore

recorded at Musiikkitalo, Helsinki January 1st, 2024 at the inaugural concert of the new organ.

Kaija Saariaho: Sept Papillons (2000) played by Anssi Karttunen

anssivk 2023-12-18 | Performed at the Musica Festival in Strasbourg 16.9.2023

Valère Novarina: Le Monologue d’Adramélech

anssivk 2023-12-15 | André Marcon, comédien

Musique: Anssi Karttunen, violoncelle

Maison de la Poésie, Paris 13.10.2023

Hildegard - Colombi - Vitali: Early cello pieces

anssivk 2023-12-12 | Hildegard von Bingen: O Virtus Sapientiae
Giuseppe Colombi: Tromba
Giovanni Battista Vitali: Partita sopra diverse Sonate
Toccata - Passa Galli - Bergamasca

Anssi Karttunen, cello

images: Muriel von Braun: Étoiles déchirées 1-3

recital at the EstOvest festival, Torino, 30.10.2023

Antti Auvinen: Overcrank Suite, for cello and video (Torino version)

anssivk 2023-12-12 | Antti Auvinen: Overcrank Suite, for cello and video
Anssi Karttunen, cello

Overcrank Suite was a coproduction EstOvest Festival-Polincontri Musica in collaboration with Politecnico di Torino-Biennale Tecnologia and Creative Dialogue France.

World Premiere at the EstOvest Festival Torino, 30.10.2023

Final version, premiered at Creative Dialogue 30.6.2024:
youtu.be/MJF57J3S6Eo?si=x5zQcsuFOQmXUdBz

Kaija Saariaho: Près (1991), for cello and electronics

anssivk 2023-12-12 | Anssi Karttunen, cello
Carlo Barbagallo, electronics

00:10 1st movement
06:05 2nd movement
09:15 3rd movement

images: Muriel von Braun: Time floats with you 1-3

EstOvest Festival 30.10.2023

Nastaran Yazdani: Ceci est ma langue (2022)

anssivk 2023-12-12 | Anssi Karttunen, cello

EstOvest festival, Torino 30.10.2023

Who was Olly? - recital, Anssi Karttunen, cello

anssivk 2023-12-01 | Anssi Karttunen, cello
Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam October 5th, 2023

Who was Olly?
A portrait of Oliver Knussen painted in music by his close friends.
Video interviews with friends of Olly.

00:00 Oliver Knussen Eccentric Melody
01:52 Interview: Julian Anderson: Olly, the composer
05:00 Esa-Pekka Salonen Arabesques for Olly
09:45 Rob Zuidam F'Olly
12:18 Interview: Philip Cashian: Olly, the teacher
15:40 Philip Cashian The Art of Memory
21:25 Julian Anderson Maisema
25:10 Detlev Glanert Little Letter for Olly
29:56 Interview: Roger Wright: Olly, the programmer
33:50 Colin Matthews Three Fragments
38:25 Sean Shepherd familiar
41:18 Charlotte Bray From the innermost places
46:40 Words: Anssi Karttunen
50:32 Oliver Knussen Tarantella x2
51:35 Tansy Davies gem
56:30 Ryan Wigglesworth Barcarolly
58:05 Interview: Brad Lubman: Olly, the conductor
1:01:15 Brad Lubman For Anssi for OK
1:05:12 Poul Ruders Last Post - a tune for Olly
1:08:14 Augusta Read Thomas Riddle
1:11:37 Jo Kondo A Song for the Owl
1:15:15 Interview: Mark-Anthony Turnage: Olly, the friend
1:18:43 Mark-Anthony Turnage Song for Big Owl
1:22:56 Kaija Saariaho Lullaby
1:26:54 Zoe Martlew O-lude

Kaija Saariaho: Lullaby (2020) for cello

anssivk 2023-11-30 | Kaija Saariaho: Lullaby
in memoriam Oliver Knussen

Anssi Karttunen, cello

« Unissa ja Puutarhoissa » « In Dreams and Gardens »
Concert in Helsinki at the Balder-Hall November 26th 2023

Kaija Saariaho: Im Traume (1980) for cello and piano

anssivk 2023-11-30 | Anssi Karttunen, cello
Tuija Hakkila, piano

« Unissa ja Puutarhoissa » « In Dreams and Gardens »
Concert in Helsinki at the Balder-Hall November 26th 2023

Kaija Saariaho: Jing (1979) for soprano and cello

anssivk 2023-11-30 | Tuuli Lindeberg, soprano
Anssi Karttunen, cello

text: Li Ch-ing Chao (1084-˜1155)

« Unissa ja Puutarhoissa » « In Dreams and Gardens »
Concert in Helsinki at the Balder-Hall November 26th 2023

Who was Olly? - Anssi Karttunen talks to friends of Oliver Knussen

anssivk 2023-09-29 | 00:00 Who was Olly?
00:10 Olly, the composer: Julian Anderson
18:45 Olly, the teacher: Philip Cashian
31:00 Olly, the programmer: Roger Wright
42:23 Olly, the conductor: Brad Lubman
51:37 Olly, the friend: Mark Anthony Turnage

Camera and sound: Alexa Ciciretti, Anssi Karttunen
Photos: AK, MvB, various sources
Editing: Anssi Karttunen

Music:
Knussen: Prayer Bell Sketch, Violin Concerto, Mussorgsky-Knussen: La Couturiere,
Debussy-Caplet: La Boîte à Joujoux, Copland: Appalachian Spring,
Turnage: On Opened Ground, Knussen: Requiem, Songs for Sue

Kaija Saariaho: Jing for soprano and cello

anssivk 2023-09-07 | Kaija Saariaho: Jing, for soprano and cello

Sandrine Schau, soprano
Tom Pickles, cello

text by Li Ch-ing Chao (1084 – ca. 1155), translated into Finnish by Pertti Nieminen

Magnus Lindberg: Maguey de Tlalcoyote (sextet version)

anssivk 2023-09-07 | Magnus Lindberg: Maguey de Tlalcoyote
(transcribed for String Sextet by Anssi Karttunen)

Minchae Kim, Lovisa Ehrenkrona, violin
Rebecca Miller, Nicholas Algot Swensen, viola
Lexie Krakowski, Tom Pickles, cello

CREATIVE DIALOGUE FRANCE 2023
Concert de clôture, Saint Florent le Vieil 27.8.2023

Kaija Saariaho, Prosperos vision for tenor and String Quartet

anssivk 2023-09-07 | Kaija Saariaho, Prospero's vision for tenor and String Quartet

Louis Tiemann, tenor
Lovisa Ehrenkrona, violin
Minchae Kim, violin
Rebecca Miller, viola
Lexie Krakowski, cello
Anssi Karttunen, conductor

text, William Shakespeare:
You do look, my son, in a moved sort,
As if you were dismay'd: be cheerful, sir.
[Our revels now are ended.] These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep. Sir, I am vex'd;
[Bear with my weakness; my, brain is troubled:
Be not disturb'd with my infirmity:
If you be pleased, retire into my cell
And there repose:] a turn or two I'll walk,
To still my beating mind.

CREATIVE DIALOGUE FRANCE 2023
Concert de clôture, Saint Florent le Vieil 27.8.2023

Creative Dialogue Ensemble: Beauchêne Improvisation

anssivk 2023-09-07 | Creative Dialogue Ensemble: Beauchêne Improvisation

CREATIVE DIALOGUE FRANCE 2023
Concert de clôture, Saint Florent le Vieil 27.8.2023

Magnus Lindberg: Like as the waves for soprano and violin

anssivk 2023-09-07 | Magnus Lindberg: Like As The Waves

Abagael Cheng, soprano
Minchae Kim, violin

text William Shakespeare, Sonnet 60:

Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
Nativity, once in the main of light,
Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crowned,
Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight,
And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow,
Feeds on the rarities of nature’s truth,
And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:
And yet to times in hope, my verse shall stand
Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.

Written for prof. Ilkka Oramo's 80th birthday.
First private performance by Anu Komsi and Sakari Oramo

CREATIVE DIALOGUE FRANCE 2023
Concert de clôture, Saint Florent le Vieil 27.8.2023

Angela Elizabeth Slater: a tulip, iron, soprano, tenor and string trio

anssivk 2023-09-07 | Angela Elizabeth Slater: a tulip, iron, soprano, tenor and string trio

Sandrine Schau, soprano
Louis Tiemann, tenor
Lovisa Ehrenkrona, violin
Nicholas Algot Swensen, viola
Tom Pickles, cello

CREATIVE DIALOGUE FRANCE 2023
Concert de clôture, Saint Florent le Vieil 27.8.2023