Adriana Mater at a glance

Show
Adriana Mater (English National Opera)
Venue
London Coliseum, West End
Address
St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4ES
Nearest station
Leicester Square; Charing Cross also close
Genre
Contemporary opera, UK premiere
Running time
About 2 hours 45 minutes, including one interval
Age guidance
15+ (contains sexual violence and scenes of war)
Language
Sung in English, with surtitles
Dates
28 November – 12 December 2026
Price range
From £25.50 (typically £25.50–£140)
Music
Kaija Saariaho
Libretto
Amin Maalouf, English translation by Aleksi Barrière
Director
Annilese Miskimmon
Conductor
André de Ridder

Expert Review: Adriana Mater at the London Coliseum

4.2
★★★★☆

LTH Anticipation Rating

Reviewed by the London Theatre Hub editorial team. Last updated: 23 September 2026. Anticipation rating; to be reviewed after opening.

The Verdict

Kaija Saariaho, who died in 2023, was one of the most admired composers of her generation, and it is remarkable that one of her major stage works has taken two decades to reach a British opera house. Adriana Mater was first staged at the Opéra Bastille in Paris in 2006, directed by Peter Sellars and conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, and has since been seen in Finland and the United States. ENO's production is the UK's first chance to see it.

This is not an easy night at the opera. The story deals directly with rape as a weapon of war and with a son's urge for revenge, and ENO recommends it for ages 15+. What makes it worth the effort is Saariaho's sound world, which mixes a large orchestra with electronics to create something rich and immersive, and a libretto by novelist Amin Maalouf that asks whether violence has to be passed from one generation to the next. Our rating is an anticipation score: the work's reputation and ENO's commitment to it are strong, but we will update it once the production opens.

What Makes It Special

  • A UK premiere. The first British staging of an opera that has been performed in Paris, Helsinki and Santa Fe.
  • Saariaho's sound. Orchestra and electronics combine in a score ENO describes as immersive and shimmering.
  • A companion to Tosca. Annilese Miskimmon directs both operas this season as connected stories about art, war and resilience.
  • A new English version. ENO commissioned a fresh translation from Aleksi Barrière, so every word is sung in English.
  • A first look at ENO's next music director. André de Ridder, the company's music director designate, conducts.

You'll love Adriana Mater if you...

  • Want to see new and contemporary opera, not just the classics
  • Are drawn to serious drama about war and its aftermath
  • Enjoy atmospheric, textured music rather than big tunes
  • Like the idea of catching a significant UK premiere
  • Are seeing ENO's Tosca and want the other half of the pair

It might not be for you if you...

  • Would find depictions of sexual violence distressing
  • Are new to opera and want familiar melodies
  • Are looking for a festive or light December night out
  • Prefer shorter evenings; it runs close to three hours

Best for

  • Opera lovers
  • Contemporary music
  • Serious drama
  • Premieres
  • Adults

Not suitable for under-15s, and not for anyone wanting a light or festive night out.

Critical Reception

This is the opera's UK premiere and the production opens on 28 November 2026, so there are no UK reviews yet. We will add verified critic ratings once they are published.

  • Production New ENO staging
  • Opens 28 November 2026
  • Reviews To follow

Source: English National Opera announcements, 2026. Ratings to follow after opening.

Everything You Need to Know

What happens in Adriana Mater?

The opera is set in an unnamed European country, before, during and after a civil war. Adriana lives with her sister Refka, and attracts the unwanted attention of Tsargo, a local man.

War

When fighting breaks out, Tsargo, now a fighter, returns and attacks Adriana. She becomes pregnant and decides to keep the child, even as she fears whether he will grow up like his mother or his father.

A secret

Adriana raises her son Yonas with love and keeps the truth about his father from him. Years later, after the war, Yonas learns what happened.

Revenge

Yonas sets out to find Tsargo and kill him. The final part of the opera turns on whether he will repeat the violence he was born from, and on what Adriana has passed on to him instead.