To get to know the sound in its most mysterious branches, Kaija Saariaho, as she once described it, simply put it "under the microscope". And the longer she looked into it, the more delicate shades and transitions she could discern. With the meticulousness of a natural science researcher, the Finnish composer approached the music. This resulted in wonderfully luminous works, often reminiscent of Debussy.

This Grande Dame of New Music, who passed away last year in her adopted city of Paris, is honored in the current edition of the Cologne "Acht Brücken" Festival. Outstanding soloists like violinist Carolin Widmann and exceptional ensembles like the Parisian Ensemble Intercontemporain are guests – also remembering the great composer Pierre Boulez, who would have turned 100 in 2025.