Innocence, the final opera by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho, is a powerful exploration of the lasting trauma caused by a school shooting. With a libretto by renowned author Sofi Oksanen, the opera unfolds through a hauntingly beautiful soundscape that blends traditional opera, expressionistic speak-singing, and Scandinavian folk music.

Set a decade after the tragedy, the story follows a young couple whose wedding unexpectedly reopens old wounds, revealing long-buried secrets. At its core is a grieving mother, portrayed by mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and her lost daughter, sung by Finnish ethno-pop artist Vilma Jää. Conducted by Susanna Mälkki in Simon Stone’s strikingly direct production, Innocence has been hailed as a modern masterpiece, offering a raw and unflinching reflection on the echoes of violence in our time.