BBC SO Total Immersion: Oramo conducts Kaija Saariaho
Light becomes sound; poetry becomes music and words create worlds. Sakari Oramo crowns a day of total immersion in the music of Kaija Saariaho with a sumptuous orchestral celebration.
‘All day and night, music...’ The ancient Persian poetry that inspired Kaija Saariaho’s Circle Map, a hybrid painting of Persian script and musical notation with Jean-Baptiste Barrière's video work projected on screen, could serve as a motto for this Total Immersion day. Oramo conducts the BBC SO in four orchestral works dating from 1989 to 2020 – including the UK premiere of Saarikoski Songs, performed by their dedicatee soprano Anu Komsi.
‘It's always the inner space that interests me’ says Saariaho, but when her creative imagination ignites, the human mind can accommodate the entire cosmos. From the ravishing cello concerto Notes on Light to the early landmark Du Cristal, this is music that uses every colour on the spectrum, and invents some new ones too – a spectacular conclusion to this total immersion in her expanding sonic universe.
This day of events will now take place on Sunday 7 May, previously scheduled for Saturday 6 May, in respect of His Majesty King Charles III's Coronation.
This performance will end at approximately 9.30pm, including a 20-minute interval.
Produced by BBC Symphony Orchestra
Programme
Performers
This is a past event. Subscribe to our newsletters to hear about upcoming events
Booking fees
£4 booking fee per online/phone transaction.
No fee when tickets are booked in person.
Booking fees are per transaction and not per ticket. If your booking contains several events the highest booking fee will apply. The booking fee may be reduced on certain events. Members do not pay booking fees.
Browse concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
Digital Programme
BBC Symphony Orchestra Total Immersion: Spotlight on Kaija Saariaho
Head over to the BBC's website to read the programme for this performance.
BBC SO Total Immersion Day
BBC SO Total Immersion
BBC SO Total Immersion
BBC SO Total Immersion
BBC SO Total Immersion
Hall
Location
The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level.
Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS
Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.
We’ve plenty of places for you to relax and replenish, from coffee and cake to wood-fired pizzas and full pre-theatre menus
Mobility
Spaces for wheelchair users in row U at the rear of the stalls (up to sixteen, depth of row 180cm) and the back row of the circle (four), both with fold-down companion seats. Some seats in row S of the stalls for people with very limited mobility.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs may be taken into the concert hall where there are a limited number of suitable seats in row G of the stalls. If you prefer, you may leave your dog with a member of the cloakroom staff during the performance.
Hearing facility
There is an induction loop in the concert hall. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting.
Free large-print programmes
These are available for most of our concerts. Please contact [email protected] at least a week beforehand, to prebook a large-print programmme.
For more access information, please visit our Accessibility section.
