The Cunning Little Vixen

The Cunning Little Vixen is a vibrant three-act opera based on a comic strip from the Brno newspaper Lidové noviny, where the piece premiered in 1924. Blending folk spirit and dazzling tonal colour, it explores the life of the forest, animal instincts, and humanity’s bond with nature.

Swedish baritone Peter Mattei brings depth to the Forester, a melancholic figure who finds solace in nature’s eternal cycle. Elena Tsallagova (Vixen) and Angela Brouwer (Fox) shine as the spirited leads, their voices weaving a tender, tragic tale.

In Barrie Kosky’s striking production, it begins with a funeral-like setting. Animals emerge from the soil as singers, not in costumes but in simple colours, contrasting with the humans in black. Eschewing artificial greenery, Kosky evokes nature through mood, movement, and metaphor.