Operas that take place in the magical world of animals

[Finn_McCool]

Two of my favorite operas, Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges and Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen,  are set in the animal world and the music is amazingly mystical and magical.  I was trying to think of other operas that deal with animals that capture that same sort of mystical musical quality.  I couldn't think of any others in the standard repertory, but maybe I am missing some obvious ones?  Probably there are operas by unsung composers that I am not familiar with!  Can anybody think of any?

[Alan Howe]

A quick reminder here, please, to keep within the confines of UC's remit when offering suggestions. Both the Janacek and Ravel operas mentioned are essentially off our radar, as it were...

[eschiss1]

True. The only other one I can think of offhand is (naturally) Krasa's Brundibar (as much for the story around it, at Terezin...) Still... hrm- erm- does Braunfels' Die Vogel (after Aristophanes' The Birds) count, though I need to refresh myself on the latters' plot- probably doesn't qualify closely enough .. (to the question asked)... (Cloud-Cuckoo-Land yay )

[giles.enders]

There is also the ballet, The Tales of Beatrix Potter, which is very traditional with good late 19th style music.

[britishcomposer]

How about César Cui's 'Puss in Boots' (1913), a children's opera? It is still performed in Germany from time to time but I don't know if a commercial recording exists.
This is a German version arranged as a radio play and with chamber orchestra only:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gestiefelte-Kater-Eine-M%C3%A4rchenoper-Jahre/dp/349188764X/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1369233916&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=cui+gestiefelte

[Finn_McCool]

Thanks for reminding me about Brundibar!  I attended a performance of Krása's Betrothal in a Dream several years ago and I meant to check out Brundibar, but it kind of slipped off the radar!