On July 4, the World premiere of Kaija Saariaho latest opera Innocence will be performed to audiences at the renowned Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence. The opera – a vast choral drama for soloists, choir and orchestra – is a contemporary tragedy made radiant through its powerful music and the intermingling of words from different languages. Read more about the performance and story here.
Kaija Saariaho’s new opera is the result of a meeting between this great composer and another Finish artist, the novelist and playwright Sofi Oksanen, who is unrivalled in her ability to force today’s reality to confront the past. Simon Stone will direct and regular collaborator Susanna Mälkki conducts the London Symphony Orchestra and the Estonian Philharmonic Choir alongside a stellar cast including Magdalena Kožená, Sandrine Pau and Markus Nykänen. Innocence will also be performed in Amsterdam, Helsinki, London and San Francisco.
Innocence is commissioned by the Festival International d'Art Lyrique d'Aix-en-Provence, Dutch National Opera, Finnish National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera.
There will be other performances of Saariaho’s music taking place during the festival including a performance of her orchestral work Laterna Magica on July 9 with Mälkki and the LSO. On July 11 Avanti Quartet with clarinettist Kari Krikku and pianist Emil Holmström, will perform Light and Matter, Nymphea and Figura.
Photo © Toni Härkönen
