(Photo credit: Marta Syrko)

The Dutch National Opera is set to present Kaija Saariaho’s “Innocence” for six performances this fall.

The production, which opens on Oct. 10, 2023 and runs through the 22nd, will be directed by Simon Stone and conducted by Elena Schwarz. The opera is set to star Jenny Carlstedt, Lenneke Ruiten, Thomas Oliemans, Lilian Farahani, Markus Nykanen, Frederik Bergman, Lucy Shelton, Vilma Jää, My Johansson, Julie Hega, Camilo Delgado Díaz, and Olga Heikkilä.

“With ‘Innocence,’ Kaija Saariaho crafted one of her most haunting and poignant scores,” said Dutch National Opera director Sophie de Lint. “We were eagerly anticipating her presence in Amsterdam for the Dutch premiere of this work and are deeply saddened to learn of her passing. We will pay tribute to this exceptional composer and hope to honor her appropriately with the premiere of ‘Innocence’ in October. Her musical genius will endure through this production and through her legacy.”

The opera was commissioned and co-produced by the Dutch National Opera in collaboration with Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Royal Opera House, Finnish National Opera and Ballet, and San Francisco Opera.