WATCH: CCM Opera Series presents 'The Cunning Little Vixen'

UC College-Conservatory of Music presents Leos Janáček’s beloved anthropomorphic opera The Cunning Little Vixen on Feb. 29-March 2, 2024, in Corbett Auditorium. Directed by Visiting Assistant Professor of Opera Brian Robertson and conducted by guest artist Vinay Parameswaran, the opera follows a clever fox (or “vixen”) and the Forester, a human who captured her as a cub. Weaving between the human and animal world, the opera blends comedy and tragedy, exploring the cyclical nature of life and death. It is sung in Czech. 

Read a preview story about CCM's production via Movers and Makers magazine.

In the woods, the Forester sits beneath a tree to rest. Sharp Ears, an inquisitive fox cub, chases a frog into his lap. Charmed by the spirited young animal, the Forester takes her from her natural home to keep her as a pet. As she grows older and more dissatisfied with life in captivity, she hatches an escape plan to make her own way in the world. While the Vixen sets her course for independence, however, the Forester remains haunted by her memory.

The opera premiered in the 1920s at the National Theatre Brno. Based on a popular Czech comic strip, Janáček expanded the story to delve into philosophical themes. Though the plot follows the Vixen’s antics as she encounters characters ranging from a chicken to a lovesick parson, the opera presents a powerfully poetic exploration of mortality and man’s relationship with nature.

CCM’s production focuses on “the friction between the constructed human existence and the essence of nature,” says director Brian Robertson. “We play with how the freedom and ease of [the animals’] existence teases the humans, creating a yearning to escape the discontent and traps of their world.”

Guest conductor Vinay Parameswaran, who previously led performances of The Cunning Little Vixen in Cleveland, takes the podium for CCM’s production. Lushly orchestrated and richly imagined, the score is infused with folk themes and Janáček's distinct “speech tunes”—a musical interpretation of the rhythms and inflections of the Czech language.

Both a comedic fable and a profound meditation, the opera defies easy categorization. At its core, however, the story is deeply human. “The Vixen for us is a symbol of simplicity,” says Robertson. Her quest for freedom from human constraints, evokes “an existence we desire.”

In an interview with Movers and Makers, Parameswaran urged anyone on the fence about experiencing The Cunning Little Vixen to take the risk: “It’s such a unique creation. … My parents, who didn’t know much about opera, came to visit when we did ‘Vixen’ [in Cleveland]. They couldn’t stop talking about it. 

“It’s an opera we can all find meaning in.”

Opera in three acts
Composed by Leoš Janácek
Revised version by Jiri Zahrádka

• 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29
• 8 p.m. Friday, March 1
• 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2

*Please note: Traffic on and around campus will be heavier than normal due to a UC Basketball game at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m on Saturday, March 2. CCM audience members are encouraged to purchase parking to UC's CCM Garage in advance through the CCM Box Office (purchase available at check out).

Corbett Auditorium, CCM Village 
University of Cincinnati

Tickets: $36 adult, $20 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

 Experiencing the magic of CCM OnStage has never been easier! Purchase your tickets:

• Online at ccmonstage.universitytickets.com
• Over the phone at 513-556-4183
• In person at the CCM Box Office in the Atrium of UC's Corbett Center for the Performing Arts 

CCM’s Box Office hours are 1-5 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, and one hour prior to curtain for ticketed performances. Hours subject to change based on the University of Cincinnati calendar. Our Box Office staff is always ready to answer your questions by phone at 513-556-4183 or email at boxoff@uc.edu. 

CCM is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. For detailed driving directions, visit ccm.uc.edu/directions.

*Please note: Traffic on and around campus will be heavier than normal due to a UC Basketball game at Fifth Third Arena at 7 p.m on Saturday, March 2. CCM audience members are encouraged to purchase parking to UC's CCM Garage in advance through the CCM Box Office (purchase available at check out). 

Parking is available in UC's CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Effective July 1, 2023, all University of Cincinnati Parking Services locations will become cashless. Pay for parking securely with your credit/debit card. All major credit cards accepted.

CCM OnStage patrons can add pre-paid parking to their checkout carts when purchasing tickets. Pre-paid parking is date/performance specific. CCM Garage parking rates for a performance or special event is usually available for $10-15. Learn more about parking at UC's CCM Garage.

For additional information on parking at UC, please visit uc.edu/about/parking.

There's more to explore — view CCM's full schedule of fall major events at ccm.uc.edu/onstage. 

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All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, please visit ccm.uc.edu/onstage.