The Cunning Little Vixen

The Cunning Little Vixen

Pacific Opera Company's production of The Cunning Little Vixen is an innovative interpretation of Janácek's harming story about the natural world and unrequited love.

For Pacific Opera Company it is a production involving many firsts, including:

first time the company has staged such an ambitious production requiring a vast cast and a full orchestra

first time the company has worked in collaboration with Sydney Youth Orchestras

first time Sydney Grammar School's $25 million state of the art, award winning theatre has been used to stage an opera

the Sydney debut of talented young Australian opera star, Alexandra Flood, who  was the 2014 RJ Hamer Scholarship recipient with the Melba Opera Trust and has spent much of the last 18 months studying and performing in Munich, Paris and at the world-renowned Salzburg Festival

talented young Australian baritone, Alexander Knight, playing the role of the Forester and has just won the coveted MTO German-Australian Opera Grant to join Hessesches Staatstheater in Wiesbaden for their 2016-2017 season.

Pacific Opera Company's Artistic Director, Simon Kenway, is thrilled with the way the production is coming together, 'We are performing this beautiful opera in English, under the baton of internationally renowned conductor, Alexander Briger and with innovative director, Michael Campbell, doing a marvellous job giving our young artists, many of whom are destined to be Australia's future opera stars, an incredible experience that is certain to have the audience completely entranced."

'This is an extraordinary collaborative effort on so many levels," Simon continued. 'Sydney Grammar School has been superb in the support they have given us to stage this opera in the New Hall and to work with their students and members of the Bach Choir, a choir drawn from parents and friends of Sydney Grammar, creates a great sense of community which is shared with players from Sydney Youth Orchestras."

Alexander Briger is equally effusive, 'It's quite something to return to my alma mater and be conducting this opera in my role as the Artistic Director of Sydney Youth Orchestras. Janácek's music is lush and romantic as well as challenging and I am intensely proud of the way our players are rising to this challenge."

Pacific Opera is a company devoted to providing emerging young opera singers with education, mentoring and performance experience that develops their talent to a new level. Many of the characters in the Vixen cast are part of Pacific Opera's Young Artists' Program or Program alumni.

Janácek's opera was first performed in 1924, and was based on a comic strip story. It was inspired by his study of animals, and his undying, unrequited love of a much younger woman. With a huge romantic score, it is lush, dramatic and intense told through the intertwining stories of a beautifully glorious vixen and the Forester who attempts to tame and contain her.

Venue:  New Hall, Sydney Grammar School, Darlinghurst            

Dates & Times: Friday 2 and Saturday 3 October 7pm

Prices:  Adult $65 | Concession $55 | Student $30 | Under 15 years $15

Bookings: www.cityrecitalhall.com  or 02 8256 2222

This program is supported by The Australian Government.