The Cunning Little Vixen
Did you know that animals have desires identical with those of humans? (And vice versa…)
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- January 2025
Friday 20. 12.
19:00
Tickets availableThursday 26. 12.
17:00
Tickets availableFriday 10. 1.
19:00
Tickets availableBasic information
The National Theatre
Approximate running time2 hours 10 minutes, 1 intermission (20 minutes) minutes
LanguageIn Czech, surtitles in Czech, English
PremiereMarch 20, 2014
Suitable for audiences aged 12 and over.
Leoš Janáček’s celebrated “philosophical revue” about animals and people, desire, disillusionment with life and wise atonement with eternal Nature.
Cast
- 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
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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 November 2024 – April 2025.
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.
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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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