The late Kaija Saariaho always regarded the mixed response to her second opera, Adriana Mater, with disappointment. Critics questioned its dramatic efficacy, criticising what they described as a wordy, cliché-ridden libretto from Amin Maalouf that seemed at odds with the urgent subject matter.

Nearly two decades on, the work is garnering new critical attention thanks to a series of semi-staged performances at San Francisco Opera in 2023, which coincided with the death of the composer.

That production has been captured here and confirms how ready Adriana Mater is for reassessment.

The opera tells the story of the eponymous Adriana, who is raped as a young woman and becomes pregnant as a result. She decides to keep the child, naming him Yonas, and shields him from the circumstances of his conception. As an adult, he discovers the truth and vows revenge. 

Saariaho brings depth of feeling and compassion to this grave subject matter, prioritising inner turmoil and atmosphere over the overtly representational. Her intimate, meditative score is characterised by shimmering,...