Inside The Story

Leoš Janáček’s beloved opera The Cunning Little Vixen is reimagined for Cape Town Opera in this family-friendly adaptation by Alan Olejniczak, celebrating the wonder of nature and the eternal cycle of life. Sung in English, the story follows the spirited Vixen Sharp-Ears, captured as a cub by a Forester and brought home in the hope she might become a tame pet. But her wild heart cannot be contained: she outwits the Forester’s wife, sparks a hilarious rebellion among the hens and makes a daring escape back into the forest. 

Once free, the Vixen finds adventure, evicts a grumpy Badger from his den and, most importantly, meets and falls in love with a handsome Fox. Their joyful forest wedding and the arrival of their playful cubs reveal a world brimming with vitality, music and colour. 

Instead of ending in tragedy, this adaptation concludes with a gentle, moving affirmation of life’s continuity. The Forester, reflecting on the Vixen’s story, recognises that although individual lives change and fade, the beauty of the forest and the renewal of each new generation endure forever.