Met Premiere

Grammy Award-winning composer Kaija Saariaho's work, Innocence, is coming to New York for its Met premiere in 2026. Created in 2018, Saariaho teamed up with Finnish librettist Sofi Oksanen to explore deep into the depths of family secrets, drama and tragedy. Fellow Finn Susanna Malkki will be conducting a host of international actors and singers, who will perform the work in multiple languages. An ambitious and dramatic masterpiece that can't be missed!

What's it about?

A great secret has been kept from Stela throughout her whole relationship with Tuomas, but after a cater-waiter for their wedding falls ill a replacement is called in. A tragic story unfolds as the replacement realizes that they know who Tuomas is, and exposes the deception that he and his family hide behind.