A haunting and profoundly relevant musical drama about the trauma that lingers in the wake of a school shooting.
Sofi Oksanen – recipient of the Nordic Council Literature Prize – has written the libretto, which, in Aleksi Barrière’s translation, beautifully complements the music of the recently deceased Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho’s final opera. and by Aleksi Barrière, whose text lends piercing clarity to the music of the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho in her final opera. The production is directed by the Australian Simon Stone, bringing together a remarkable creative team that guides the audience through a raw, nightmarish reflection on the senseless gun violence of our time – at the very heart of The Opera House.
A woman confides that she sleeps best beneath her bed or inside a wardrobe – the very places where the monsters of her childhood once lived. At a wedding reception, joy fills the room as guests celebrate the newlyweds. One of the waitresses begins to recognise the groom’s parents and struggles to recall how they are connected. A teacher remembers how much she loved her work at an international school – and how everything changed ten years ago. In a classroom, students suddenly receive a message that fills them with fear…
Structured like a psychological thriller, Innocence gradually gathers its threads into a single, devastating narrative of a fatal school shooting. The opera offers an unflinching commentary on contemporary gun violence and, above all, on its aftermath – probing questions of guilt, responsibility and collective accountability. Can anyone truly claim to be innocent?
Innocence is presented in Simon Stone’s internationally acclaimed original staging. Sofie Elkjær Jensen sings the role of the Bride, with Francine Vis as the waitress Tereza. The cast also includes Magnus Vigilius, Stephen Milling and Erika Hammarberg, who performs traditional Finnish karjankutsuu.
Innocence is performed in multiple languages with Danish and English surtitles.
Recommended from 15 years old
It is this incredibly beautiful exploration of the scars we carry with us.
Creative team
Komponist
- Kaija Saariaho
Librettist
- Sofi Oksanen
Dirigent
Dirigent, Assistent og 2nd Dirigent
Instruktør
- Simon Stone
Scenografi
- Chloe Lamford
Lyddesign
- Timo Kurkikangas
Kostumedesign
- Mel Page
Lysdesign
- James Farncombe
Koreografi
- Arco Renz
Cast
Dirigent
Elena Schwarzparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 6/11
Tjeneren, (Tereza)
Francine Visparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Bruden
Sofie Elkjær Jensenparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Svigermoren
Helena Juntunenparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Brudgommen
Magnus Vigiliusparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Svigerfaren
Johannes Weisserparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Præsten
Stephen Millingparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Læreren
Matilda Paulssonparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Markéta
Erika Hammarbergparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Lily
My Johanssonparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Iris
Julie Hegaparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Anton
Rowan Kievitsparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Jerónimo
Camilo Delgado Díazparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11
Alexia
Marina Dumont Anastassiadouparticipating
- 11/10
- 13/10
- 17/10
- 23/10
- 25/10
- 29/10
- 1/11
- 6/11