Tobias Picker

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Subtitle	chamber version for 7 players
Text information	libretto by Donald Sturrock based on the book by Roald Dahl
Year(s) composed	1998
Publisher	Schott Music
Instrumentation	vocal score
Duration	80'
Premiere	July 26, 2010; Yucca Lawn, Holland Park, London; Tim Murray, conductor · Stephen Barlow, production · Sean Turner, scenery
Commission	Commissioned for the Los Angeles Opera by Felicity Dahl; by James Clutton for Opera Holland Park, supported by generous donations from the Friends of Opera Holland Park
Language	English
Composer note	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.