(Photo Credit: Christophe-Abramowitz)

The Opéra National de Paris has announced that this February it will inaugurate a new space in honor of composer Kaija Saariaho at the Opéra Bastille.

Saariaho’s second opera, “Adriana Mater,” was commissioned by the company and had its world premiere in 2006 in a production By Peter Sellars. Additionally, the Opéra National de Paris showcased the French premiere of “Only Sound Remains” in 2018, also with a production by Peter Sellars.

Saariaho passed away last June at the age of 70. She composed a number of major operas including “L’Amour de Loin,” “La Passion de Simone,” “Émile,” and “Innocence.”

Throughout her career, she won numerous awards including the Kranichsteiner Prize at Darmstädter Ferienkurse, Prix Italia for Stilleben, Prix Ars Electronica for Stilleben and Io, Wihuri Sibelius Prize, the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording (L’amour de loin), the Polar Music Prize and Leone d’oro di Venezia, Biennale della Musica Contemporanea.