Leoš Janaček

Příhody Lišky Bystroušky
The Cunning Little Vixen

24, 25, 27, 28. June 2026

An opera in three acts

Libretto by the composer based on the novella “Liška Bystrouška” by Rudolf Těsnohlídek
First performed 06. November 1924 in National Theatre Brno

A collaboration with the Residentie Orkest

Synopsis

In Janáček’s Příhody lišky Bystroušky (The Cunning Little Vixen), the human and animal realms come together in an enchanting way.

The forest is bursting with energy. Every spring brings new life. Badgers, frogs and birds seek their way to the light. In the village, however, time has come to a standstill. The Forester is old, and the village is
slowly dying out. Old friends gather in the pub to reminisce. Their time is almost up; rigid and stubborn, they cling to life.

But then the Forester meets a young vixen. Lively, mysterious, fast. She is different from the other animals. To his wife’s frustration, he takes her home and imprisons her. But she refuses to be chained. She escapes, yet the Forester cannot let her go. He keeps thinking about her obsessively. He must and will catch her again. Why is she pursuing him? What is she trying to teach him?
In Janacek’s famous masterpiece The Cunning Little Vixen, the students of the Dutch National Opera Academy demonstrate the extent to which life and death are intertwined and explore the relationship between man and nature.

Press

Production photos © Reinout Bos

Information

Dates:
24, 25, 27. June 2026 @ 19:30;
28. June 2026 @ 14:15

Performance venue:
Conservatoriumzaal, Amare, The Hague.

A collaboration with the Residentie Orkest
Performance edition for Birmingham Opera Company by Jonathan Dove (1998) performed in Czech.

Duration:
One hour and forty minutes (no interval)
Performed in Czech with Dutch and English surtitles

Illustration by Elke Uijtewaal

Creative team

Chloe Rooke
conductor

Daniel van Klaveren
director

Maartje Prins
set & costume design

Tim van ’t Hof
lighting design

Leslie Pérez-Canto
assistant conductor

Demi Wals
assistant director

Lukáš Zeman Czech
language coaching

Cast

Aimee Kearney (25. & 28.06) / Mathilde Guedj (24. & 27.06)
Sharp-Ears (Bystrouška) the Vixen/ Young Vixen

Madeline Lee (25. & 28.06) / Maura Wesseling (24. & 27.06)
Gold-Stripe (Zlatohřbítek) the Fox / Chocholka, a hen

Pavel Zelenev
Forester (Revírník)

Jaap van der Wel
Parson / Badger

Milan de Korte (24. & 27.06) / Cathal McCabe (25.06) / Salvador Simão (28.06)
Schoolmaster

Román Bordón
Harašta, a poultry dealer / Lapák, a dog

Kasia Mandla
Forester’s wife / Woodpecker

Cathal McCabe (24. & 28.06)/ Salvador Simão (25. & 27.06)
Mosquito/ Rooster/ Pásek, an innkeeper

Clarisse Planchais
Pepík, Forester’s grandson / Mrs. Páskova / Owl

Laura Pimenta
Frantík, Pepík’s friend / Jay

Book tickets

€37.50 (full-price)
€15.00 (students)

The closing date for applications to join the programme in Autumn 2027 is Sunday 17 January 2027.