Breaking the Waves - English National Opera

Missy Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves, adapted from Lars von Trier’s acclaimed 1996 film, comes to the London Coliseum in a powerful new ENO production for the 2026/27 season. Set within a strict religious community on a remote Scottish island, the opera follows Bess and her husband Jan, whose loving marriage is shattered after a devastating accident leaves him paralysed. When Jan urges Bess to sleep with other men and recount her experiences as a way to help him heal, her deep faith and devotion drive her into a series of dangerous and emotionally devastating encounters. The opera explores sacrifice, belief, love, and suffering with intense emotional honesty, raising questions about whether Bess’s devotion will save the man she loves or destroy her in the process.

Praised as one of the most compelling contemporary operas of recent years, Breaking the Waves combines cinematic storytelling with Mazzoli’s hypnotic, emotionally charged score, influenced by both Benjamin Britten and Philip Glass. Librettist Royce Vavrek brings psychological depth and humanity to the work, while director Tinuke Craig and conductor Joana Carneiro lead a distinguished cast including Grammy-nominated soprano Lauren Snouffer as Bess. With its haunting music, raw themes, and striking staging, this 18+ production promises an unforgettable theatrical experience that examines the extremes of faith, morality, and human love.