BBC TWO BROADCASTS NEW ANIMATED FILM OF JANACEK OPERA

BBC TWO broadcasts a magical new version of Janacek’s much loved opera, The Cunning Little Vixen over the Easter season. The film has been specially created for BBC Television and combines the talents of international conductor Kent Nagano and acclaimed animation designer and director, Geoff Dunbar. The visual style is derived from the drawings by Stanislav Lolek in the original 1920’s newspaper strip which inspired Janacek to write the opera. Spellbinding animation has been created by using hand drawn techniques, combined with computer generated imagery.

Kent Nagano and Christophe Durrant have created a new edition of the music, which is performed by the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester. The international cast of young soloists, the stars of tomorrow, were selected by the European Opera Centre, following extensive auditions and they are joined by singers from the New London Children’s Choir and the BBC Singers. The title role of Vixen Sharp-Ears is sung by soprano Christine Buffle, baritone Grant Doyle is the Forester, Richard Coxon is the Vixen’s lover, Dashwood Fox and Keel Watson is the poacher while Blue Peter presenter, Matt Baker, sings the role of Lapák the Dog.