Catalogue of Stage Works

Opera

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Operetta, Songspiel, Musical

Music Theatre for Children and Young Persons

Scenic Oratorio

Ballet

Incidental Music

Theatre Plays

composer: Tobias Picker
librettist: Donald Sturrock
author of original text: Roald Dahl
German edition: Frank Wenzel

opera in three acts

libretto by Donald Sturrock
based on the book by Roald Dahl
German version by Frank Wenzel

Premiere: December 9, 1998 Los Angeles, CA, Opera (USA) · Conductor: Peter Ash · Staging: Donald Sturrock · Costumes: Gerald Scarfe · Stage design: Gerald Scarfe
Orchestra instrumentation: 2(1.afl,2.pic).2(2.ca).2(2.bcl).2(2.cbsn)-4.2.2.1-timp.2perc(glsp, xyl, vib, mar, crash cym, cym (pair), h.h, 2gongs, s.d, low dr, 6toms, b.d, 2tempbl)-hp.pno-str(10.9.6.8.4)
Cast of characters: Fantastic Mr. Fox · baritone - Mrs. Fox · mezzo soprano - Bennie, Lennie, Jennie, & Pennie Foxcub · children - Farmer Boggis · bass - Farmer Bunce · tenor - Farmer Bean · bass baritone - Mavis the Tractor · soprano - Agnes the Digger · mezzo soprano - Miss Hedgehog · soprano - Badger the Miner · baritone - Burrowing Mole · tenor - Rita the Rat · mezzo soprano - Porcupine · tenor - Chorus of Trees · Children - Various Geese and Chickens
Publisher: Schott Helicon Music Corporation
Duration: 90' 0''
Year of composition: 1998
Edition: performance material
Language: English - German
Material on hire
Delivery rights: worldwide

A modern fable, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a story about good vs. evil, animal vs. human, and nature vs. technology. With the help of the other creatures of the forest, Mr. Fox must outwit his enemies to keep his family safe. Mr. Fox finds that he may have stolen one hen too many from the henhouse, as the meanest farmers anywhere — Boggis, Bunce, and Bean (one fat, one short, one lean) — conspire to rid their lands of the Fox family once and for all. The Foxes are able to evade capture with the help of some woodland friends, leaving the farmers laying in wait while the animals help themselves to the fruit of the farmers’ lands. Having had their revenge, the animals return for a sumptuous feast far from danger in the Foxes‘ new home, while the farmers continue to wait in the rain.
The opera is available in a singable German version as well.