In Adriana Mater, Kaija Saariaho takes as her theme the brutality of war. A woman is raped; a son is born; will the son take after his mother or his father? The son, learning of his violent conception, vows to kill his father. But an unexpected twist brings an unexpected end.

The second of three contemporary operas making up the Present Voices season at Barbican Hall.

Learn more about London operas within the West End.