Find Hope Amidst Brutality In Saariaho's Adriana Mater

Legendary opera composer Kaija Saariaho's searing drama gets a rare staging under ENO's artistic director Annilese Miskimmon, coming to the Coliseum in November 2026. Telling the powerful story of a young man shaped by war and the secrets of his parentage, Adriana Mater is an astounding tale of violence, love, and mercy in a world full of brutal cruelty.

What Is The Story?

War turns people into beasts. No one knows that more than Adriana Mater - now giving birth to a son following a brutal assault from a soldier. She is determined to not let her son's violent past and surroundings define him, raising him with as much love as she can muster. But when he grows up, he discovers the horrible truth of his father. And he is faced with a life-altering choice: chase violent vengeance in his mother's name, or choose to create a new path of mercy.