
NEW PRODUCTION FOR DNO
Dates
7-22 Oct 2023
Location
Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Main Stage
Running time
1:45, no interval
Tickets
From € 18

Psychological thriller on the opera stage
The new opera Innocence recounts a topical tale of guilt, forgiveness and being haunted for life by traumatic events. Dutch National Opera presents the latest work by the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, one of the most frequently performed contemporary composers in the world. The libretto is by compatriot and bestselling author Sofi Oksanen and dramaturg Aleksi Barrière, a specialist of new music theatre and multilingual dramaturgy.
Set from the opera Innocence | © Jean Louis Ferdinandez
Performance information
Opera in five acts and an epilogue
The main singing language is English, and additional languages are Finnish, Czech, French, Romanian, Swedish, German, Spanish and Greek
Libretto Sofi Oksanen (original Finnish) & Aleksi Barrière (dramaturgy & multilingual version)
Musical direction Elena Schwarz
Stage direction and dramaturgy Simon Stone
Set design Chloe Lamford
Costume design Mel Page
Lighting design James Farncombe
Choreography Arco Renz
The Waitress (Tereza) Jenny Carlstedt
The Mother-in-Law (Patricia) Lenneke Ruiten
The Father-in-Law (Henrik) Thomas Oliemans
The Bride (Stela) Lilian Farahani
The Bridegroom (Tuomas) Markus Nykänen
The Priest Frederik Bergman
The Teacher Lucy Shelton
Markéta (student 1) Vilma Jää
Lily (student 2) My Johansson
Iris (student 3) Julie Hega
Anton (student 4) Rowan Kievits
Jerónimo (student 5) Camilo Delgado Díaz
Alexia (student 6) Olga Heikkilä
Chorus of Dutch National Opera
Chorus Master Edward Ananian-Cooper
Residentie Orkest The Hague
Composition commission and co-production by Dutch National Opera, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Royal Opera House (London), Finnish National Opera and Ballet (Helsinki) and San Francisco Opera
In collaboration with The Metropolitan Opera (New York)
5 reasons to look forward to Innocence
Ticket prices
Check out the ticket prices per price category via the link below. Youths up to 35 can attend this performance for only € 25,00 (including booking fee), regardless of which price category is ordered.
Order tickets
Innocence - Behind the Scenes


Operatic psychological thriller about the repercussions of a school shooting
Psychologische operathriller over de nasleep van een ‘school shooting’

Lilian Farahani and Thomas Oliemans about Innocence
Lilian Farahani and Thomas Oliemans about Innocence

Residentie Orkest The Hague
Residentie Orkest The Hague was founded over a century ago and is one of the major acclaimed symphony orchestras in the Netherlands. The innovative orchestra, led by chief conductor Anja Bihlmaier, plays at leading venues in the Netherlands and abroad. Recent productions at Dutch National Opera involving the Residentie Orkest are Nabucco, Denis & Katya and Blue. This season, the orchestra will accompany the opera Innocence.

Opera and ballet online
Can't get enough of opera? Discover more than 2.584 hours of:
- arias and scenes
- behind-the-scenes videos
- interviews & articles