Janáček: Příhody Lišky Bystroušky Act 1 scene 1

Janáček: The cunning little Vixen
The Vixen is Janáček's most singular work and in many ways it is also his most charming. Based on a cartoon series by Rudolf Tĕsnohlídek which appeared in 1920 on the newspaper Lidové noviny, drawings by Stanislav Lolek, it tells the Tale of the Vixen Sharp-ears (the literal translation of the Czech title Příhody Lišky Bystroušky). Though it could be argued that the opera follows in the tradition of the German Märchenoper nevertheless the musical language and themes explored make it unique in the entire operatic repertoire. The parallel lives of the animals, who get on with the business of living (and dying), and the humans, who seem to live in a permanent state of regret and paralysis, unfolds in a rich tapestry of musical invention where Janáček uses musical material notated from nature to create a forest of sounds. Many of the climatic moments of the opera are orchestral rather than vocal and the opera is an inviting challenge for directors, singers and choreographer. The final message of the opera is, of course, optimistic, as is always the case with Janáček, celebrating the renewal of life in nature: the final words are given to a frog who says to the Forester "No, I'm not the one you think, that was my granddad, he spoke a lot about you".
As in Kat'a Kabanova the Vixen has autobiographical inspiration in Janáček's muse Kamila Stösslová who is represented in two characters: the Vixen and Terinka the illusive gypsy girl whom the schoolmaster loves from a distance.

In the forest, animals insects play and dance. The forester enters and lies down to take a nap. The busy activity of the forest continues and the young Vixen who is chasing a frog is caught by the forester who decides to take her home as a pet for his children.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Janáček
• Příhody
• Lišky
• Bystroušky
• Cunning
• Vixen
• Mackerras
• Allen
• Jenis
• Minutillo
• Kusnjer
• Novak
• Fuchslein

[JorPove]

Siempre he visto en Janacek y Mozart un paralelismo visible en la ingeniosidad para sacar de la nada (como actos de magia) temas e diversa indole ( que van desde el drama desgarrador,hasta lo comico ) todo acompañado de un artificio de notas que con sus diversos cromatismos ,formas cambiantes y arabescos, desdidujan o esconden el drama detras de ellos. Y ambos fueron personas que vivieron el doble drama de sufrir y reir para darnos diversion y esparcimiento a nosotros :un verdadero acto humano.

[kazimierzmichalkiwic]

Allen is my fauvorite singer recently

[fiji238]

Thank you for loading this version! Could you tell me where did it take place and who the director were? The little frog's bit is so funny and also it amazed me to see that even if Bystrouska die, the final isn't sad: death is part of nature...

I first thought the forester were a bad man but now I can see he felt tenderness for Bystrouska and so does she for him... It's a beautiful little opera!

[fiji238]

Thank you for loading this version! Could you tell me where did it take place and who the director were? The little frog's bit is so funny and also it amazed me to see that even if Bitouska die, the final isn't sad: death is part of nature...

I first thought the forester were a bad man but now I can see he felt tenderness for Bistrouska and so does she for him... It's a beautiful little opera!

[kilkimora]

O Janacku dowiedziałem się z książki Milana Kundery "Zdradzone Testamenty". Postanowiłem sprawdzić, bo nigdy wcześniej nie słuchałem go. Jestem oczarowany. Słucham tego trzeci raz i nie mogę przestać.

Pozdrowienia z Polski dla sąsiadów- Czechów!

[Azbinebrozer]

Merci. Une version étincelante !

Le DVD était encore disponible en France en 2007 et peut-être plus. Une oeuvre qu'il faut faire découvrir aux petits et grands.