New-to-Dallas production of The Cunning Little Vixen by Leoš Janáček, directed by Barrie Kosky, sung in Czech with projected English titles.
The Dallas Opera brings The Cunning Little Vixen to the Winspear Opera House starting Friday, October 30. It's a new-to-Dallas production of Leoš Janáček's Czech opera, which he composed between 1921 and 1923. The libretto is adapted from Rudolf Těsnohlídek's 1920 novella Liška Bystrouška, first published in Lidové noviny with illustrations by Stanislav Lolek.
The story follows a fox cub trapped by a forester and her search for a wild life of hunting, true love, and constant vigilance. Australian director Barrie Kosky signs a bold, glitzy production that brings vibrant theatricality to the tale. It marks the American opera debut of soprano Mirjam Mesak, who sings the title role. The performance is sung in Czech with projected English titles, and it runs about an hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. The production is a co-production with Bayerische Staatsoper and Gran Teatre del Liceu, and the company is adding pre-opera talks by Joy and Ronald Mankoff.
On stage, Emmanuel Villaume conducts. Mirjam Mesak is the Vixen, with baritone Zachary Nelson as the Forester and mezzo-soprano Shannon Keegan as Lišak. Bass Andrew Harris doubles as the Parson and the Badger, while mezzo-soprano Lindsay Ammann plays the Forester's wife. The rest of the cast includes Freddie Ballentine as the Schoolmaster and Mosquito, Brandon Cedel as the Forester's Wife and Screech-owl, Kayla Nanto as Harašta, Ashley Townsley as Lapák and Dog, Johnny Brown as Mrs. Pásková, Alyssa Dessoye as Pásek, and Chocholka as the Hen. Michael Levine serves as revival director, with stage design by Victoria Behr and costume design by Franck Evin.
Every week we pick 🏆 the 5 best 🏆 things to do in Dallas and send them to your inbox. Just one weekly email, no spam.
By submitting your email, you accept our Privacy Policy
There are four performances at the Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street: Friday, October 30 at 7:30 PM; Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 PM; Wednesday, November 4 at 7:30 PM; and Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 PM. Tickets start at $84.
