Kaija Saariaho and Anssi Karttunen started working together in the early1980's and their collaboration has been the origin of one of the mostimportant bodies of work for cello of the 20th century.

Apart from six pieces for solo cello, Saariaho has written four concertanteworks and numerous chamber music pieces. Anssi Karttunen was involvedin the world premieres of most of these pieces.

This collaboration is a living proof of how an interpreter and composer cangrow together pushing each other into directions that would have beenunimaginable in other circumstances.

The most recent additions to this repertoire are the Cello Concerto "Noteson Light" (2006) and "Mirage" (2007) for Soprano, Cello and Orchestra,"Cloud Trio" for String trio (2010) and "Dreaming Chaconne" (2010) .

Pieces for cello by Kaija Saariaho:

Solo cello:

Petals, (with optional electronics)Près, (with electronics)Spins and SpellsSept PapillonsEtincellesDreaming Chaconne

Concertante:

.. à la Fumée, for cello, alto flute and orchestraAmers, for cello and ensembleNotes on light, for cello and orchestraMirage, for soprano, cello and orchestra

Chamber music:

Jing, soprano and celloIm traume, cello and pianoNymphéa, String QuartetGates, flute, cello and harpsichordOi kuu, bass clarine (or bass flute) and celloCendres, flute, cello and pianoNeiges, eight cellosChanging Light, soprano and celloJe sens un deuxième coeur, viola cello and pianoTerra memoria, String QuartetSerenatas, cello, percussion and pianoCloud Trio, for String TrioMirage, soprano, cello and piano

Sept papillons - Works for cello by Kaija Saariaho