The Cunning Little Vixen
Did you know that animals have desires identical with those of humans? (And vice versa...)
Basic information
The National Theatre
Approximate running time2 hours 10 minutes, 1 intermission 20 minutes
LanguageIn Czech, subtitles in Czech, English
PremiereMarch 20, 2014
Leoš Janáček’s celebrated “philosophical revue” about animals and people, desire, disillusionment with life and wise atonement with eternal Nature.
Cast
- 2021-2022
Creatives
About
National Theatre Chorus and 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
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Practical information
Where to buy tickets
The National Theatre offers tickets for August – November 2021.
Tickets for November on sale from August1st.
When purchasing online, we will send you an E-ticket by e-mail. You can pick up printed tickets in person at the box offices of the National Theatre.
According to the government's decision, visitors must meet these conditions.
Parking at the National Theater
Kotva department store (Revoluční 1/655, Prague 1), then walk along Králodvorská street to Ovocný trh.
Palladium department store (Na Poříčí 1079/3a, Prague 1), then walk along Králodvorská street to Ovocný trh, or to the Powder Gate through Celetná street to Ovocný trh.
From the beginning of April 2020, the underground car park is closed due to reconstruction. The length of the reconstruction is estimated at a year and a half.
What to wear?
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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