Kaija! Composer Kaija Saariaho’s Colors, Shades, and Light

By Sanna Pelliccioni and Leena Virtanen

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023) was one of the leading voices of her generation, and widely respected in contemporary classical music in Finland, France and worldwide.

Kaija Saariaho explored colour and light. She saw music as colours and shapes and heard images as sounds. She reached out to the senses and made her way to become one of our most internationally acclaimed composers.

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About the author

Sanna Pelliccioni (b. 1976) is an awarded Finnish graphic designer, illustrator and children’s book author living in Helsinki. Pelliccioni was nominated for the 2025 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.Leena Virtanen (b. 1960) is a freelance journalist and author.The Finnish Superwomen picture books, created by illustrator Sanna Pelliccioniand author Leena Virtanen, is a wonderfully illustrated series, that explores the lives of Finnish artists and notable cultural personas: Minna Canth, Ellen Thessleff, Eeva Kilpi, Fredrika Runeberg, Larin Paraske and Tove Jansson.