DE Season 2026/27

Innocence

Contemporary Opera by Kaija Saariaho
Opera & Musical Theatre

Finnish composer and Heidelberger Künstlerinnenpreis laureate Kaija Saariaho has created a touching musical drama together with best-selling author Sofi Oksanen and librettist Aleksi Barrière. This magnificent multi-lingual opera is about guilt and trauma, survival and forgiveness, with an atmospheric sound that while never abandoning the characters gives the audience space to dive into the complex emotional web of the plot.

Waitress Tereza subs at a wedding party at short notice. To her horror, she recognises the groom and his parents as the relatives of the young man who had gone on a shooting rampage – killing her daughter and others – at an international school ten years ago.

Until now, the bride was unaware of the crime. Tereza forces the family to break their silence; the past comes to light layer by layer.

Info

Oper in fünf Akten von Kaija Saariaho

original finnisches Libretto von Sofi Oksanen
mehrsprachiges Libretto von Aleksi Barrière

in English, Finnish, Czech, Romanian, French, Swedish, German, Spanish, and Greek, with German surtitles

Location
Theater Heidelberg, Marguerre-Saal
Heidelberg premiere 27 February 2027
Age recommendation
15+

Produktion des Staatstheaters Braunschweig

»It has been ten years now. We should let go but I can’t. Most of us can’t.«

Cast

Opernchor des Theaters & Orchesters Heidelberg
Philharmonisches Orchester Heidelberg

Team

Musical Director
Mino Marani
Director
Dagmar Schlingmann
Stage and Costumes
Sabine Mader
Lighting Design
Karsten Rischer
Dramaturgy
Sarah Grahneis
Choir Director
Florian Daniel
Education
Annabelle Ruth