Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen

When a curious fox cub is captured by a Forester in the woods, their unlikely encounter unfolds into a tale of nature, humanity, and the cycle of life.

Inspired by a Czech newspaper comic strip, the fantastical tale of The Cunning Little Vixen follows the spirited Vixen Sharp-Ears through her life’s journey. Transcending the boundaries of the human and animal realms, the story illuminates our delicate relationship with nature and the passage of time.

The Vixen endures a youth of cruel confinement at the hands of the Forester and his family. Following an attempt, in vain, to incite a rebellion among the other farmyard animals, she eventually finds the courage to escape captivity. In the wild, she meets a charming male fox and, following an unexpected turn of fate, the two quickly marry. At last, the Vixen is able to live a free life in the world she was born to roam.

But, with the Forester still haunted by her memory, this freedom comes at a final heavy cost for our spirited heroine…

Janáček’s evocative score weaves in folk tunes of his native Moravia with lush orchestral writing, gloriously embodying the playful wildness of the animal world against the majestic backdrop of the forest.

Written at the end of his career, The Cunning Little Vixen is a reflection of Janáček’s own life and impending death, exploring the natural cycle of life and the eternal rhythms of the natural word.

Join RNCM as they raise the curtain on this vibrant, colourful, yet deeply moving tale.

Red cast performances Sun 22 Mar and Thu 26 Mar 2026.
Blue cast performances Tue 24 Mar and Sat 28 Mar 2026.

Leoš Janáček The Cunning Little Vixen
Reduced Orchestration by Jonathan Lyness 
Libretto by Leoš Janáček based on the novella ‘Liška Bystrouška’ by Rudolf Těsnohlídek
English Translation by Sir David Poutney