If you go down to the woods today

The English National Opera presents Leo Janacek's extraordinary opera The Cunning Vixen in February 2022, directed by Jamie Manton following his work with the ENO's talent development programme Studio Live. An exploration of our relationship with nature, The Cunning Little Vixen vividly tells the tale of a smart female fox who is captured by a Forrester, and how their chance meeting changes both their lives forever.

What is the story?

Accidentally waking a Forrester from his nap while chasing a frog, smart cub Smart Ears finds herself soon made a pet. Growing up tied in his yard with only a grumpy Daschund and the Chickens for company, she dreams of escaping back to her forest home. When the chance presents itself, the now-adult Vixen finally chews through her bonds, and kills her feathered jailers and scurries away. Enraged by her escape, the Forrester follows on, determined to kill her. But as nature carries on and the Vixen meets a handsome Fox, can the Forrester finish his deadly errand, or will the will of the natural world overcome him?