Abstract: This article is dedicated to the opera of the most produced modern Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho “L’amour de loin”. This work is recognized as the masterpiece of the musical theatre of the XXI century, and received multiple awards, including Grammy in 2011. Libretto of the opera is based on the biography of a troubadour named Jaufre Rude, his fiery passion for the Countess of Tripoli of whom he has only heard, and his journey to meet the woman of his dreams. It encompasses such pages of history of world culture as the era of the Crusades in the XII century, Persian love poetry, and Biblical texts. The music in “L’amour de loin” is also an intertextual organism, with organically intertwined beauty of the orchestra fabric, thin scales of vocal intonations, and exquisite composing technique.

Keywords: Kaija Saariaho, The Love from Afar, Contemporary opera, XXIth century, Troubadour J. Rudel, IRCAM, Finnish composer school, Amin Maalouf, Tristan and Isolde, Pelleas and Melisande

Abstract: This article is dedicated to the opera of the most produced modern Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho “L’amour de loin”. This work is recognized as the masterpiece of the musical theatre of the XXI century, and received multiple awards, including Grammy in 2011. Libretto of the opera is based on the biography of a troubadour named Jaufre Rude, his fiery passion for the Countess of Tripoli of whom he has only heard, and his journey to meet the woman of his dreams. It encompasses such pages of history of world culture as the era of the Crusades in the XII century, Persian love poetry, and Biblical texts. The music in “L’amour de loin” is also an intertextual organism, with organically intertwined beauty of the orchestra fabric, thin scales of vocal intonations, and exquisite composing technique.

Keywords: L’amour de loin, libretto, Kaija Saariaho, Finnish opera, Jaufre Rudel, Clé, mence, love, medieval poetry, troubadour, dramaturgy