CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN opera

CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN

an opera by Leoš Janáček

Nederlandse Reisopera
WORLD PREMIERE January 2026


Director                                                                                                 Rennik-Jan Neggers
Conductor                                                                                              Peter-Jelle De Boer
Set                                                                                                           Sebastian Hannak
Costumes                                                                                               Sarah Mittnebühler 
Lighting                                                                                                                  Alex Brok

Inspired by a comic strip, composer Janáček wrote this wonderful opera in the 1920s as a reflection on nature and our own condition as humans within it. Meticulously did he attempt to translate the sounds of nature and the animal world into music. Taken home by a forester to be kept as a pet, the opera follows a little cub into adulthood, we witness her attempt to escape until her sudden death at gunpoint - and what happens to the forester after. Thus the opera has tragic and philosophical elements, whilst revolving around an eerie, tender, and farcical heart.
A very touching reflection on the nature of life and death. 

For this opera I designed a space that reflects on naturalism. At the very beginnning, we see the empty stage and a blurred image of a forest. Slowly the abstract white forest descends onto the stage as a magical moment together with the music: we are introduced into the animals´ habitat. As the opera journeys through moments of human and animal life alike, we experience the necessity of a mutual understanding.

As this show was made for traveling, everything was able to be dismantled and setup from one day to the other in another city- completly with lights etc.

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