43 Love is the glue that holds people together. But what if the mind of a loved one starts to deteriorate and the memories start to fade? Red Fox tells three stories about love and dementia, connected by the figure of a cunning, mythical fox. Red Fox gives us a glimpse into three different relationships that are all affected by the loss of memories: an old singer and his wife during his farewell concert in Los Angeles; two rice farmers in rural China; and a young Scandinavian filmmaker who still has a bone to pick with his grandmother. The opera palpably conveys how memories shape our identity and how love can endure even when the shared past is fading away. The mystical fox weaves these stories together, blurring the lines between myth and reality. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Red Fox is a world premiere by Du Yun, who is known for her eclectic musical language. In 2017 she won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for her opera Angel’s Bone. Now, she creates Red Fox in collaboration with sought-after librettist Royce Vavrek and director Barrie Kosky, renowned for his imaginative productions and for the unmistakable contemporary signature he has brought to Dutch National Opera in productions such as Tosca and Turandot. The cast brings together a distinguished ensemble of performers, including acclaimed sopranos Annette Dasch and Evelyn Herlitzius. They are accompanied by baritones Bo Skovhus and Alexander de Jong, tenor Ya-Chung Huang and soprano Qian Yi, a specialist in Kunqu, the traditional Chinese opera style. Countertenor John Holiday, who previously caused a sensation as Nerone in Agrippina, lends his agile voice to the character of the fox. Conductor Pierre Bleuse, a strong advocate of contemporary music, leads the Residentie Orkest in a score that is influenced by genres including pop, Chinese folk music and the Western classical tradition. New production Libretto: Royce Vavrek Sung in English Musical direction Pierre Bleuse Stage direction Barrie Kosky Set design, light and animation Klaus Grünberg Costume design Thibaut Welchlin Video design Tieni Burkhalter Dramaturgy Laura Roling Phil, a pop singer Bo Skovhus Shawna, Phil’s wife Annette Dasch Lian, a rice farmer Qian Yi Dong, a rice farmer Ya-Chung Huang Karin, a retiree Evelyn Herlitzius Jens, Karin’s grandson, a documentary filmmaker Alexander de Jong Celestial Fox, a shape-shifting creature John Holiday Residentie Orkest Chorus of Dutch National Opera Chorus master Edward Ananian-Cooper Co-production with Komische Oper Berlin and Opera Philadelphia Production partner Premiere 13/3/2027 Subsequent performances: 15, 18, 20, 28* March 2027 | Curtain-up: 20:00 / *14:00 | Ticket sales start on: 27 August 2026 | Prices: see page 125 | Location: Main Stage, Dutch National Opera & Ballet Photo: Petrovsky & Ramone World premiere Red Fox Or, When Bathing in the Waterfall, Memory is of No Consequence Du Yun (1977) “ Audacious and searing… an appallingly good work” The New York Times on Du Yuns Angel’s Bone
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