Urgent and intense: Innocence opens at the Royal Opera House

Vilma Jää (Markéta) and Jenny Carlstedt (Waitress)

Lucy Shelton (Teacher) and students

Innocence

Markus Nykänen (Bridegroom), Lilian Farahani (Bride) and Jenny Carlstedt (Waitress)

Sandrine Piau (Mother-in-Law), Jenny Carlstedt (Waitress) and Vilma Jää (Markéta)

By Mark Valencia, 18 April 2023

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“surrender to Saariaho’s spell and she will wrench your heart”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 17 April 2023

Saariaho, Innocence

The Royal Opera

Susanna Mälkki, Conductor

Simon Stone, Director

Chloe Lamford, Set Designer

Mel Page, Costume Designer

James Farncombe, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Royal Opera Chorus

Jenny Carlstedt, Waitress

Sandrine Piau, Mother-in-Law

Christopher Purves, Father-in-Law

Lilian Farahani, Bride

Markus Nykänen, Groom

Timo Riihonen, Priest

Lucy Shelton, Teacher

Vilma Jää, Markéta (Student 1)

Beate Mordal, Lilly (Student 2)

Julie Hega, Iris (Student 3)

Simon Kluth, Anton (Student 4)

Camilo Delgado Diaz, Jerónimo (Student 5)

Marina Dumont, Alexia (Student 6)

Arco Renz, Choreography

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Dominic Lowe, 25th March

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****1

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Turandot drowned in an orchestral tsunami at The Royal Opera

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Mark Valencia

Mark has worked in arts journalism for four decades, both as a writer and as a French-English translator. Nowadays he focuses his energies on reviewing opera and music. Mark also writes for Opera magazine and for Musical America as a correspondent for Europe and the UK.