In contrast to the slightly less well-known stories of Mr. Brouček’s unfortunate entanglements with the moon and the 15th century, Janáček’s other comic opera is perhaps his most famous. The magical Příhody lišky Bystroušky (literally The Tales of Vixen Sharp-Ears) is better known in English as The Cunning Little Vixen.

The story started its life as an illustrated serial in the Czech newspaper Lidové noviny:

It was from this that the composer fashioned his libretto and, in the process, added (all the best comedies have one!) a very serious point to the story. The final result is a work that glories in the cycle of life and death; in the eternal recurrence of nature.

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