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Příhody lišky BystrouškyPříhody lišky Bystroušky
Opera

The Cunning Little Vixen

Leoš Janáček

Did you know that animals have desires identical with those of humans? (And vice versa...)

The National Theatre
The Year of Czech music
For the whole family
English surtitles

Basic information

Venue

The National Theatre

Approximate running time

2 hours 10 minutes, 1 intermission (20 minutes) minutes

Language

In Czech, surtitles in Czech, English

Premiere

March 20, 2014

Leoš Janáček’s celebrated “philosophical revue” about animals and people, desire, disillusionment with life and wise atonement with eternal Nature.

Cast

  • 2023-2024
  • 2024-2025

Creatives

About

National Theatre Chorus
National Theatre Orchestra
National Theatre Opera Ballet 
Prague Philharmonic Children’s Choir

In The Cunning Little Vixen, Leoš Janáček, almost 70 years of age at the time, gave vent to his love for ever-regenerating Nature, of which human and animal individuals alike are merely temporary, yet wonderful and precious, parts. The opera teems with playfulness, humour, wildness, love, sorrow, wisdom – simply full-blooded life. Janáček found the original subject for the piece in Rudolf Těsnohlídek’s newspaper serial story, inspired by Stanislav Lolek’s caricature drawings. Putting foxes, a gnat, a frog, hens and other animals on the opera stage was unprecedented and highly audacious at the time – yet in retrospect not so surprising given that Janáček was an artist for ever provoking and experimenting ...

Today The Cunning Little Vixen ranks among the most feted and most frequently staged Czech operas worldwide. With its story being by turn merry and sad, it is a title possessing significant potential to captivate the audience, and owing to its wit, profound ideas and emotionality, the work speaks to adults, while children are enchanted by its picturesque nature and exquisite scenery. In his production, the stage director Ondřej Havelka airily and poetically depicts the comical animal world and the world of peculiar people, yet he also delves under the surface of sheer scenic beauty, revealing that the relations between the characters of Janáček’s opera are far from being as idyllic as they may seem.

The production’s main media partner is Czech Television.

Photo: Hana Smejkalová 

Photo and video gallery

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    Goods detail

    The Cunning Little Vixen Programme (CZE)

    A booklet for the production of The Cunning Little Vixen

    70 Kč

    Only 3 items in stock

    Practical information

    Where to buy tickets

    The National Theatre sells tickets up to 6 months in advance. We are currently selling tickets for performances of Drama, Ballet, Opera and Laterna magika taking place in March-August 2024.


    When purchasing online, you can get an e-ticket. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.

    Parking at the National Theater

    While visiting The National Theatre and the New Stage you can use again the underground car park of the National Theatre. Information and a parking fee.

     

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    By their appearance, attire and behaviour, the audience is obliged to adhere to the accustomed practice expected from them when attending a theatre performance.

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