This December, discover Tosca and Adriana Mater as two interconnected chapters of a wider story about conflict, human endurance and hope.

On Saturday 5 December 2026, for one day only, experience both operas as a unique double bill, beginning with a matinee performance of Tosca and concluding with an evening performance of Adriana Mater.

ENO’s artistic director Annilese Miskimmon directs both of these theatrically connected new productions, which form one arc exploring art, war and resilience, set within the same narrative universe and timeline. As Annilese explained in a recent interview:

‘I’ve always felt that in Tosca, Puccini created a flesh-and-blood heroine who suffers exactly as many women suffer in real life. In Adriana Mater, Kaija Saariaho looks at a woman who goes through the same thing as Tosca: a sexual assault by a powerful military man. Both women are fighting against their fates. It was a flash of inspiration to place them in the same world. 

It’s so important that we have space on our stages to look not just at pain, but at the positive stories that can emerge from it.’

This exceptional day of opera offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in two powerful works that resonate deeply together, creating a richly layered and unforgettable day of music and storytelling.

Head to our introduction pages for both Adriana Mater and Tosca to learn more about these stories.