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Tuija Hakkila, Anssi Karttunen

The pianist Tuija Hakkila had a close friendship with composer Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023), which lasted more than 40 years until the composer's death in 2023. Hakkila played a decisive role in Saariaho's work for solo piano and harpsichord. Saariaho found writing music for piano particularly challenging due to the instrument's limitations, which did not prevent her from composing a number of works for piano. Although there are only a few, these works are jewels of the 21st century, continuing the path of the late works of Debussy and Messiaen. Tuija Hakkila holds a senior position in piano music at the Sibelius Academy and earned a doctorate in music in 2005. Her repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music. She has a strong interest in historical performance practice and enjoys presenting classical and romantic programs on historical pianos. She collaborates with a number of contemporary composers and is invited to perform premieres of new works. Hakkila's discography as a soloist includes the complete cycle of the piano sonatas of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a compilation of the piano works of Jean Sibelius, a recital of 20th century piano music and a world premiere recording of the music of the Finnish brothers Lithander from the early 19th century. She has recorded chamber music of Kaija Saariaho, Niccoló Castiglioni, Joseph Haydn and Malin Byström. Her discography also includes the violin sonatas of Johannes Brahms, cello works of Gabriel Fauré and all works for cello and piano of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Reviews

"The Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, who died in Paris three years ago, was considered one of the most important composers of her country. Her adopted country had been France for many years, and Saariaho's musical language - especially with regard to the piano and harpsichord instruments heard here - blends the Scandinavian and French idiom in a fascinating and almost elective way. Her complete works for the two keyboard instruments - in track 5 (Im Traume, 1980) a cello is also used, performed by Anssi Karttunen - are presented by pianist Tuija Hakkila, also from Finland, who previously collaborated on the (sold out) Ondine CD "Kaija Saariaho - Trios" (ODE1189-2) and on which various works for trio instrumentation can be heard. Hakkila also wrote the commentary for this album." (Burkhard Schäfer, www.klassik-heute.de)

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