David Pountney's charming Cunning Little Vixen revived in Leeds

Elin Pritchard (Vixen Sharp-Ears)

The Company of The Cunning Little Vixen

James Rutherford (Forester) and company

Heather Lowe (Fox) and Elin Pritchard (Vixen Sharp-Ears) with children (fox cubs)

Paul Nilon (Schoolmaster), James Rutherford (Forester) and Henry Waddington (Parson)

By Richard Wilcocks, 06 February 2023

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“Pritchard's strong, limpid tones conveyed total emotional involvement”

Reviewed at Leeds Grand Theatre, Leeds on 4 February 2023

Janáček, The Cunning Little Vixen

Opera North

Garry Walker, Conductor

Sir David Pountney, Director

Maria Björnson, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Nick Chelton, Lighting Designer

Elin Pritchard, Vixen

Heather Lowe, Fox

Henry Waddington, Parson

Paul Nilon, Schoolmaster

James Rutherford, Forester

Richard Burkhard, Forester

Callum Thorpe, Harašta

Miranda Bevin, Chocholka

Kathryn Stephens, Jay

Claire Pascoe, Mrs Paškova

Hazel Croft, Forester’s wife

Kathryn Sharpe, Woodpecker

Kamil Bien, Mosquito

Stuart Laing, Pásek

Paul Gibson, Badger

Stuart Hopps, Choreography

John Findon triumphs in the return of Opera North’s Peter Grimes

Richard Wilcocks, 13th February

Benjamin Britten’s dark masterpiece Peter Grimes returns triumphantly to Opera North, conducted by Gary Walker and revived by Karolina Sofulak and Tim Claydon.

*****

Opera North’s Susanna: how a woman stood up to her abusers

Richard Wilcocks, 4th October

Handel's oratorio is staged by Olivia Fuchs and conducted by Johanna Soller in Opera North's latest successful collaboration with Phoenix Dance Theatre.

****1

To be or not to be: Hamlet returns to the Buxton Festival

Mark Pullinger, 16th July

After 45 years, Ambroise Thomas' Hamlet returns to Buxton in a gripping, psychological staging by Jack Furness.

****1

Opera North’s “fleeing” Dutchman links to plight of asylum seekers

Richard Wilcocks, 1st February

Opera North’s The Flying Dutchman, directed by Annabel Arden, conjures up frightening storms and links the production to the plight of asylum seekers.

****1

Opera North’s gleeful Magic Flute revived

Richard Wilcocks, 27th September

Conducted by Christoph Konz and directed by James Brining, Opera North’s revival of The Magic Flute remains an inventive reinterpretation of Mozart’s classic opera.

****1

Richard Wilcocks, 15th February

Opera North's revives its Cavalleria rusticana production by Karolina Sofulak, pairing it this time with Rachmaninov's early opera Aleko.

****1

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Richard Wilcocks

Richard Wilcocks has worked as a journalist, as a teacher and for the British Council. He sings bass with Leeds Festival Chorus.