The Cunning Little Vixen

Opera by Leoš Janáček

AMSERV presents:

Opera by Leoš Janáček
Libreto by Leoš Janáček after Rudolf Těsnohlídek’s serialised novella “Adventures of Vixen Sharp-Ears”
World premiere on November 6, 1924 in National Theatre Brno
Premiere in the Estonian National Opera on January 30, 2026

Stage Director: Priit Võigemast
Music Director: Arvo Volmer
Conductor: Kaspar Mänd
Designer: Rosita Raud (Estonian Theatre for Young Audiences)
Choreographer: Ingmar Jõela
Video: Aljona Movko-Mägi
Light Design: Priidu Adlas (Eesti Draamateater)

Sung in Estonian with subtitles in Estonian and English.

Janáček found the original subject for the piece in Rudolf Těsnohlídek’s newspaper serial story, inspired by Stanislav Lolek’s cartoon strip consisting of more than 200 pictures. The composer detailed the adventures of a clever fox cub. She is captured by the local Forester, grows up on his farm, and then escapes back to the woods to raise a family.

Human beings, like vixens, are born, grow, marry and die. Janáček illuminates for us the cycles of life and nature, and at the same time, he shows us archetypes of the morality of the humans who cannot accept those cycles – and the road by which one human eventually can. It is by far his sunniest stage work and its inbuilt anthropomorphic joke of animals behaving like humans leads to many moments of pure comedy.

The dramatic modes with which the composer experiments – the unique blend of dance and song, the strange mixing of animal and human worlds, the cinematic succession of tiny scenes – were advanced for their time and the opera had to wait many decades to win over audiences and critics. The opera teems with playfulness, humour, wildness, love, sorrow, wisdom – simply full-blooded life.

Recommended age 12+

Cast:
Sharp-Ears, the Vixen Kristel Pärtna, Elena Brazhnyk
Forester Tamar Nugis, Rauno Elp
Harašta, a poultry dealer Raiko Raalik, Priit Volmer
Schoolmaster / Mosquito Rafael Dicenta, Mart Madiste 
Gold-Stripe, the Fox Helen Lokuta, Karis Trass
Forester’s Wife Kadri Raalik, Arete Kerge
Badger / Parson Stanislav Sheljahhovski, Mart Laur 
Lapák, a Dog / Woodpecker Janne Ševtšenko, Annabel Soode
Rooster / Jay Kadri Nirgi, Katri Juss
Owl / Mrs Páskova Juuli Lill, Aule Urb
Chocholka, a Hen Maris Liloson, Danna Malõsko
Young Vixen Bystrouška Greta Marie Niinepuu 
Frog, Cricket, Grasshopper, Juku, Pets, Fox Cubs: Estonian National Opera Boys' Choir
Hens, Forest Creatures Estonian National Opera Chorus – sopranos, altos