House of Creations, La Monnaie’s new works incubator, has announced the cast for its production of “Fanny och Alexander (Fanny and Alexander),” a new adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s 1983 award-winning film of the same name. Mikael Karlsson composed the opera’s music to a libretto by Royce Vavrek. The opera’s director is Ivo van Hove, and Ariane Matiakh will conduct.

The cast comprises Anne Sofie von Otter (Justine), Thomas Hampson (Edvard Vergérus), Doris Soffel (Helena Ekdahl), Loa Falkman (Helena’s lover), Peter Tantsits (Oscar Ekdahl), and Sasha Cooke (Emily Ekdahl).

Artists for the titular roles have yet to be announced.

The opera is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story in which Fanny and Alexander’s happy childhoods end upon the death of their father.

Bergman’s film took home four Golden Globes in the categories of Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Cinematography, and Best Foreign Language film. Bergman’s heirs support the adaptation.

“Bergman has always stuck with me, because his films are at the same time harsh and tender. They can be bitter, they look life straight into the eye, but in this they always remain humane,” “Fanny och Alexander’s” director Van Hove stated on the House of Creations blog.

“Fanny och Alexander” will have its premiere at La Monnaie around Christmastime 2024.