Work Information
| commissioned by the BBC and VARA Radio 4, Netherlands |
| Work Notes |
dedicated to Gidon Kremer |
Publisher |
Chester Music Ltd |
| Category |
Soloist(s) and Orchestra |
Year Composed |
1994 |
| Duration |
25 Minutes |
Solo Instrument(s) |
violin |
| Orchestration |
2232/4221/4perc/hp.pf/str(12.10.8.6.4)
alt.: violin; 1(pic).1.1+bcl.1/2.1.0+btbn.0/2perc/hp.pf/str(1.1.1.1.1) |
Availability |
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| Discography |
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| Solo Part(s): |
CH61222-01 |
Solo Part(s): |
Not available |
Programme Note
Graal théâtre (Grail theatre) takes its title from a book of the same name by Jacques Roubaud. While I was working on my violin concerto the book inspired me indirectly in two ways: firstly the title expresses the tension that I feel between the efforts of the composer when writing music and the theatrical aspect of a performance, especially in the case of a concerto, where the soloist, both physically and musically is playing a major role. Roubaud's interpretation of the old legend with its very personal example, also encouraged me to realise something that I had long found impossible: to bring an idea of the violin concerto, a genre with so many moving and skilful masterpieces, into my musical framework and language,
The initial source of inspiration for the piece is the playing and musicianship of Gidon Kremer, to whom the piece is dedicated.
When compared to my other music, Graal théâtre is the exception in a long row of pieces in which I combine acoustic instruments with some kind of electronic extensions. Unlike these earlier works my starting point here was the delicate violin sound and its interaction with an orchestra.
© Kaija Saariaho
Reviews
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The central characteristic of Saariaho’s music, constant tension of slow changing, is microscopic drama at its best: as if one would examine large quantities of identical snowflakes first from a distance and then more closely and closely, so that the diversity and wealth of the flakes’ figures suddenly dawned like a stroke of lightning. … The climax of the huge concert was the premiere of the chamber version of GRAAL THÉÂTRE. … In the chamber version of her brilliant [violin] concerto Saariaho has reduced her spectra to become more evocative and in their individuality maybe more touching, too.
Jukka Isopuro, Helsingin Sanomat, 01/09/1997
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It is indeed a superbly made piece, elegantly shaped, addressing and challenging the canons of violinistic virtuosity… It is rare, at this point, to see a composer get to grips with writing that is virtuostic, Paganinian, without succumbing to aridity, and without the piece losing its whole raison d’être.
Jacques-Emmanuel Fousnaquer, Le Monde, 01/02/1996
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Its protagonist is a solo violin (here played by Gideon Kremer, to whom the work is dedicated). The drama of the music is created by the fearsome virtuosity – but also the lyricism – of the violin part in the context of an everchanging orchestral texture, sometimes drawing its ideas from the violin’s lead, sometimes complementing it with other gestures…highly effective in its scintillating juxtapositions and interweavings of delicacy and richness, activity and stillness.
Geoffrey Norris, The Daily Telegraph, 01/08/1995
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