The Cunning Little Vixen
Follow the Vixen. Enter the forest. Discover a world as fierce as it is beautiful.
Seen through the eyes of a young fox, The Cunning Little Vixen opens with a chance encounter that results in her capture. Through her courage and resilience, the Vixen manages to outwit her captors, and escapes to untamed freedom in the forest. An exquisite exploration of life, love, loss, the cycle of life and the endless power of nature.
Janáček’s opera is no fairy tale, but rather a reflection on the cycle of life. His evocative score weaves rich folk melodies with playful humour, capturing the sounds of nature’s eternal rhythm and its wild, irrepressible spirit.
American soprano Amber Norelai stars as the Vixen, with Irish soprano Jade Phoenix (Die Fledermaus 2025) as the Fox and Irish baritone Benjamin Russell as the Forester. The Cunning Little Vixen is directed by Sophie Motley (Werther 2023) and features the Irish National Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
The Cunning Little Vixen is sung in English with English surtitles.
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Cast & Creative Team
Cast
| Vixen, Sharp-Ears | Amber Norelai |
| Forester | Benjamin Russell |
| Fox, Gold-Spur / Crested Hen | Jade Phoenix |
| Badger / Priest / Poacher | Ashley Riches |
| Schoolmaster | William Pearson |
| Mosquito / Innkeeper | Oisín Ó Dalaigh |
| Dog (Lapák) / Innkeeper’s Wife | Heather Sammon |
| Forester’s Wife / Woodpecker | Oryna Veselovska |
| Frantík / Owl | Caroline Behan |
| Pepík / Jay | Megan O'Neill |
| Cock | Niamh St John |
Creative Team
| Conductor | Charlotte Corderoy |
| Director | Sophie Motley |
| Set Design | Maree Kearns |
| Costume Design | Saileóg O’Halloran |
| Projection Design | Neil O'Driscoll |
| Lighting Design | Sarah Jane Shiels |
| Choreographer | Emily Terndrup |
| Assistant Director | Grace Morgan |
| Répétiteur | Richard McGrath |
| Irish National Opera Orchestra |
