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Janacek's "The Cunning Little Vixen" reflects on the circle of life and the wonders of nature

WUOT | By Melony Dodson
Published April 23, 2026 at 2:27 PM EDT

Melony Dodson talks with James Kenon Mitchell, director of UT Opera Theatre and Kevin Class, music director of UT Opera Theatre and director of Collaborative Piano. The University of Tennessee Opera Theatre and Opera Orchestra present Leos Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen, April 24th, 25th and 26th at the Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville.

The University of Tennessee Opera Theatre and Opera Orchestra present Leos Janacek's The Cunning Little Vixen this weekend at the Bijou Theatre in downtown Knoxville. This whimsical masterpiece will be performed in English intertwines the lives of humans and woodland creatures in a beautiful reflection on the circle of life and the wonders of nature. Janacek's colorful score evokes the sounds of nature and at times, says music director, Kevin Class, resembles a symphonic poem.

Learn more about the music, the rehearsal process, and the creative team, who's bringing this colorful story to life. Performances are April 24th and 25th at 7:30pm and April 25th and 26th at 2:30pm. Tickets and additional information at: https://knoxbijou.org/events/
Tags
Music UT OperaThe University of Tennessee College of MusicUniversity of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee Opera TheatreJames Kenon MitchellKevin ClassOperaThe University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra
Melony Dodson
Melony calls the beautiful mountains of Boone, N.C., home, although she was born near Greensboro, N.C. There’s just something about those Blue Ridge Mountains that got in her blood and never left after she moved there to attend Appalachian State University (ASU). While at ASU, she majored in piano performance and music therapy and began to cultivate a love for accompanying and for collaborating with other musicians. This soon led her to earn a master’s degree in collaborative piano at the University of Tennessee, which she attended from 2006-2008.
See stories by Melony Dodson