Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Leoš Janáček's "The Cunning Little Vixen," a captivating chamber music album released on September 1, 2003, under the Chandos label. This delightful composition is a vivid portrayal of the life cycle of a vixen, filled with humor, charm, and profound wisdom.
Janáček's masterpiece is divided into three acts, each offering a unique blend of characters and narratives. The first act introduces us to the cunning little vixen, Sharp-Ears, and her adventures, including her capture and subsequent life at the Forester's farmyard. The second act delves into her political escapades and eventual courtship and marriage with the Fox, Goldenstripe. The final act brings the story to a poignant conclusion, exploring themes of life, death, and renewal.
With a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes, this album is a journey through the seasons and the cycles of life, beautifully captured through Janáček's distinctive musical language. The chamber music arrangement adds an intimate and engaging dimension to the storytelling, making it a compelling listen for both seasoned classical music enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
2003 Chandos Records2003 Chandos Records
Tracks
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: PreludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: Going to be a storm soon (Forester)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: Come on, old lady, and let's get the show started (Cricket, CatepillarLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Stephen Wallde, Shelley Nash, Robert Tear, Piers Lawrence
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: Mummy! Mummy! What is that? (Vixen Cub, Forester)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen, Rebecca Bainbridge
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: PantomimeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. Sharp-Ears at the Forester's lakeside farmyard: InterludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: Look at how big she's grown! (Forester, Forester's Wife, Vixen, Dog)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen, Gillian Knight, Lillian Watson, Karen Shelby
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: I'm just the same too (Vixen)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: Look what we've got down 'ere (Pepik, Frantik, Vixen, Forester's Wife,Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Thomas Allen, Gillian Knight, Fiona Dobie, Anna Lorimer
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: Interlude (beginning) "Ou, ou!" (Vixen)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. How Sharp-Ears was Caught: Interlude (conclusion)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. Sharp-Ears as a Politician: You should take a lesson from me! (Dog, Rooster, Hens, Chief Hen)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Karen Shelby, Mary King, Glenys Groves, Royal Opera House Chorus
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. Sharp-Ears as a Politician: Sisters! Comrades! (Vixen, Hens, Rooster)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Mary King, Royal Opera House Chorus
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act I. Sharp-Ears as a Politician: Come on then, don't be frightened (Chief Hen, Forester's Wife, Vixen,Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Thomas Allen, Gillian Knight, Glenys Groves
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: PreludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: Ah! - Who's that out there screaming? (Vixen, Badger, Forest CreLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Gwynne Howell, Royal Opera House Chorus
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: InterludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: In my view parish things have got to be better! (Priest, ForesteLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Gwynne Howell, Thomas Allen
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: Once long since, long ago (Forester, Schoolmaster, Priest, PásekLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen, Robert Tear, Gwynne Howell, John Dobson
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: Home now? (Forester, Pásek)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen, John Dobson
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home : Interlude IILeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: Something is wrong with my equilibrium (Schoolmaster)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Robert Tear
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: Staccato! Flageoletti! (Schoolmaster)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Robert Tear
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: So remember to be a good man! (Priest)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Gwynne Howell
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears expropriates a home: Memnestho aner agathos einai (Priest, Forester, Schoolmaster)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Gwynne Howell, Thomas Allen, Robert Tear
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: InterludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: O my God! He's so handsome! (Vixen, Fox)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Diana Montague
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: One dark night (Vixen)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: Fox Goldenstripe (Fox, Vixen)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Diana Montague, Lillian Watson
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: Can it be that I am lovely? (Vixen, Fox)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Diana Montague
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: Let me go! I am afraid of you! (Vixen, FLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Diana Montague
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: If you had only seen what I saw just nowLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Diana Montague, Gillian Knight, Mary King
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act II. Sharp-Ears's Courtship; Sharp-Ears's Love and Marriage: That's how it is! (Fox, Vixen, WoodpeckeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Diana Montague, Lillian Watson, Pat Purcell, Royal Opera House Chorus
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: PreludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: In the month of May (Harašta)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Nicholas Folwell
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: Hey there, Harašta, how's it going? (Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen, Nicholas Folwell
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: Little foxes running fast (Fox Cubs,Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Diana Montague, Chorus of Royal Opera
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: How many children do we have? (Fox, VLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Lillian Watson, Diana Montague, Nicholas Folwell
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: Put it down fast! Harašta, Harašta! (Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Nicholas Folwell, Lillian Watson
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: InterludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: Where is old man Pásek? (Forester, InLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen, Elizabeth Bainbridge, Robert Tear
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. Sharp-Ears outwits Harašta from Lisen; Sharp-Ears' death: Well I'm damned! (Forester, InnkeeperLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen, Elizabeth Bainbridge, Robert Tear
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. The young Sharp-Ears is the spitting image of her mother: InterludeLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. The young Sharp-Ears is the spitting image of her mother: Spring is here at last (Forester)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. The young Sharp-Ears is the spitting image of her mother: When evening arrives, I welcome the rLeoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. The young Sharp-Ears is the spitting image of her mother: Hey! But I can't see the Vixen there!Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Thomas Allen
The Cunning Little Vixen, Act III. The young Sharp-Ears is the spitting image of her mother: Tha-that wasn't me (Frog)Leoš Janáček, Sir Simon Rattle, Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Piers Lawrence