The Cunning Little Vixen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cunning Little Vixen (Příhody Lišky Bystroušky, literally "The Adventures of Vixen Sharp-Ears," in Czech) is an opera by Leoš Janáček, with a libretto adapted by the composer from a serialized novella (daily comic) by Rudolf Těsnohlídek, which was first published in newspaper Lidové noviny. It was premiered on 6 November 1924 in Brno.

This is Janáček's lightest opera, and, despite the titular vixen's death at the end of the work, it stands in contrast to the often brutally serious nature of operas such as Jenůfa and Káťa Kabanová. As is the case with many of his works, the heroine represents a woman, Kamila Stösslová, with whom Janáček had a long infatuation. In The Cunning Little Vixen, the composer moved away from the more conversational style of previous and subsequent operas in favor of a more folk-like style.

At Janáček's request, the final scene from The Cunning Little Vixen was performed at his funeral in 1928.

1 Synopsis:
2 Conception:
3 Films
4 References

[edit] Synopsis:

Act I: In the forest, the animals and insects are playing and dancing around. The forester (baritone) enters and lays down against a tree for a nap. The Vixen (soprano), in baby form (usually sung by a young girl), inquisitively chases a frog right into the lap of the surprised forester who forcibly takes her home as a pet. Time passes (in the form of an orchestral interlude) and we see the Vixen, now grown (to full size soprano), tied up in the forester's yard with the conservative old dachshund (mezzo). Fed up with life in confinement, the vixen chews through her rope, attacks the chickens, and hops the fence to freedom.

Act II: The vixen takes over a badger's home and kicks him out. In the inn, the pastor, forester, teacher and schoolmaster drink and talk about their mutual infatuation with the gypsy girl Terynka. The drunken schoolmaster leaves the inn and mistakes a sunflower that the vixen is hiding behind for Terynka and confesses his devotion to her. The forester, also on his way home, sees the vixen and fires two shots at her, sending her running. Later, the vixen, coming into her womanhood, meets a charming boy fox (soprano), and they retire to the badger's home. An unexpected pregnancy and a forest full of gossipy creatures necessitate their marriage, which rounds out the act.

Act III: The poacher Harasta (bass/bass-baritone) is engaged to Terynka and is out hunting in preparation for their marriage. He sets a fox trap, which the numerous vixen cubs mock. Harasta, watching from a distance, shoots and kills the vixen, sending her children running. At Harasta's wedding, the forester sees the vixen's fur, which Harasta gave to Terynka as a wedding present, and flees to the forest to reflect. He returns to the place where he met the vixen, and sits at the tree grieving the loss of both the vixen and Terynka. His grief grows until, just as in the beginning of the opera, a baby vixen unexpectedly jumps in his lap. This reassurance of the cycle of death leading to new life gives his heart a deep peace.

[edit] Conception:

Janáček found the characters for The Cunning Little Vixen by chance in a serialized comic printed in newspaper Lidové noviny. After reading the comic, he began work by meeting with the author, Rudolf Těsnohlídek, and beginning a study of animals. With this understanding of the characters involved, his own 70 years of life experience, and an undying, unrequited love for the much younger, married Kamila Stösslová, he began work on the opera. Writing his own libretto, he transformed himself into the forester the Kamila into the vixen and Terynka. He also transformed the originally comedic cartoon, into a philosophical reflection on the cycle of life and death with the vixen's murder. On top of this libretto he wove some his most experimental opera concepts (ballet, mime, and orchestral interludes) and folk melodies. As with many older composers, this late opera shows a deep understanding of life leading to a return to simplicity.