Premiere of CENDRILLON
Opera "Cendrillon" will premiere today at the Kaunas State Musical Theatre, Lithuania. "Cendrillon" is an opera - described as a "fairy tale" - in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Caïn based on Perrault's 1698 version of the Cinderella fairy tale.
Opera "Cendrillon" dressed to the nines
The first rehearsal week of "Cendrillon" by Jules Massenet draws to an end.
In this production, the Cinderella fairy tale takes place on the backdrop of the glamorous world of fashion, complete with runway shows and model fittings. The staging zooms in on the lives and ambitions of the wealthy and powerful De La Haltière family. It deals with the topic of dull reality versus irresistible virtual reality. And, of course, tells a story of a young woman living in forsaken circumstances whose life suddenly changes to remarkable fortune. Using the original ballet music of the piece, "Cendrillon" will have three fashion shows demonstrating the creations of the high-end fashion label De La Haltière. All of the collections are put together using the principles of circularity - redesigning garments and recapturing “waste” as a resource to manufacture new products.
Massenet's Cendrillon underway
Cendrillon is an opera described as a "fairy tale in music" by Jules Massenet, based on Perrault's 1698 version of the Cinderella fairy tale. The opera is produced by Pärnu International Opera Music Festival PromFest in cooperation with Kaunas State Musical Theatre. The premiere of the opera about overcoming self-doubt and achieving true happiness is set to take place on September 7th, 2023.
Premiere of "Il Turco in Italia"!
Rossini's comic opera "Il Turco in Italia" will premiere today at the Kaunas State Musical Theatre, Lithuania
From the shoe workshop
The characters of "Il Turco in Italia" literally take to their heels, escaping from the drawings and ending up as real objects. Here is a quick look into the workshop of Marina Kazijeva who crafts the glitzy footwear of this opera by hand.
VIDEO: "Il Turco" in the making
See the video trailer of the preparations of Rossini's "Il Turco in Italia"
Rehearsals begin for "Il Turco"
The story of Rossini's “Il Turco in Italia” revolves around a young Turkish prince, who driven by a tempest, lands in Italy and falls in love with the first pretty woman that chance throws in his way. Object of his desire, a beautiful Italian Fiorilla is of course delighted with the attention and sees this as a welcome opportunity to torment her jealous husband. The plot thickens when it turns out that the prince also has an abandoned mistress still in love with him and Fiorella is admired by a lover who is not yet willing to give up his position. A worthy scenario for an opera, soap-opera or indeed… a TV show.
Offbeat production: "Il turco in Italia" to premiere in September 2021
The production will premiere in September 2021.
Full video of "I Capuleti e i Montecchi"
New pictures of "I Capuleti"
"I Capuleti" premiere in Lithuania
Premiere of "I Capuleti" - Gallery
It's time to rise the curtain for the premiere of Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" in Pärnu, Estonia. The stage director of the production is Katrin Tegova, musical director Erki Pehk, set and costume designer Madis Nurms, choreographer Dainius Bervingis, lighting designer Margus Vaigur, video by Argo Valdmaa.
The design is inspired by two musical moments in the opera: first a recurring theme from Sinfonia that resembles galloping horses and secondly a phrase from Giulietta's aria: "I burn, a blaze, a fire all my torment" (Ardo...una vampa, un foco tutta mi strugge). First of the two inspired the central images of the set design, another provided the gleaming-hot orange color scheme of the costumes.
Preparing "I Capuleti"
Last three "Aidas"
Have a look at "I Capuleti" design
New production of "I Capuleti e i Montecchi"
Ballet "GO" on tour in China
"La Traviata" premieré in Kaunas
The bittersweet story of a glamorous courtesan Violetta Valéry has it's premieré tomorrow at the Kaunas State Musical Theatre with Anna Denisova from Mariinsky Theatre and Ilya Silchukov and Victor Mendelev from the Bolshoi State Opera of Belarus in the main roles.
Full video of "La Traviata"
When a glamorous call girl Violetta Valéry finds love in her admirer Alfredo Germont, it seems nothing can keep them apart. But the rules of society and family expectations betray them, and Violetta’s fate takes a tragic turn.
"Aida" returns
It's time to raise the curtain on
Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida" for only three performances this year.
Soloists of this production are of many nationalities (Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia) so the performances are quite rare. There are only three shows of "Aida" in 2017.
"In theory the idea of opera-thug Nurms directing the utterly lyrical „Aida“ seems like an act of aesthetic vandalism or even an iconoclasm. In practice the meeting of the romantic opera and a postmodernist director/designer turned out to be rather exciting, with all the virtues and disadvantages of the experiment itself."
Postimees - June 2nd 2015
Video and pictures from Birgitta Festival
Here are the new pictures of "La Traviata" by photographer Tiit Mõtus and some rehearsal footage with interviews in both Estonian and Russian.
"La Traviata" at Birgitta Festival
For a few August nights, the imposing ruins of the Pirita monastery are turned into a modern opera house where various genres of musical theatre are performed. This year a performance of "La Traviata" lights up the dim August nights.
"La traviata" at Pärnu Concert Hall
Today is the second performance of a new production of Verdi's "La traviata" at the Pärnu Concert Hall.
The design of the opera is based on the concept of downfall and decay. The subject of fading fairness becomes especially relevant in the story of a fallen woman who’s only valued for her external beauty. The sharp angles and brilliant surfaces of the set design are meant to form an urban background for the sinister costumes – and to bring to life the “crowded desert which is known to men as Paris.”
Premieré of "La traviata" today
"La traviata" by Giusepe Verdi will open today at Vanemuine Theatre, Tartu.
The stage director of the production is Anu Lamp, musical director Erki Pehk, set and costume designer Madis Nurms, co-director/choreographer Ingmar Jõela, lighting designer Margus Vaigur and video designer Janek Karakatš.
Pictures from the dress rehearsal
Making of "La traviata" 2
Here's another look into the workshops of Kaunas State Music Theatre. Video shows the sets and costumes getting ready for the first stage rehearsals of "La traviata". Premieré on May 5th 2017.
Video of La traviata preparations in Kaunas
See the video of "La traviata" set and costumes being prepared at the Kaunas State Music Theatre.
"La traviata" design goes to Kaunas
Today the set and costume designs for an upcoming staging of G.Verdi's "La traviata" are transferred to Kaunas State Music Theatre, Lithuania. Based on these drawings both the set and costumes are made in the workshops of the theatre.
The design of the opera is based on the concept of downfall and decay. The sharp angles and brilliant surfaces of the set design form an urban background for the sinister costumes.
New production of "La traviata"
This week marks the beginning of rehearsals of "La traviata" - an opera by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. Premieré will take place on May 5th, 2017 at Vanemuine Theatre, Tartu. The stage director of the production is Anu Lamp, musical director Erki Pehk, set and costume designer Madis Nurms, choreographer Ingmar Jõela and lighting designer Margus Vaigur.
Last "Aida" this year
This production of "Aida" has a happy ending – giving hope that a way out has to exist even from the most hopeless situation. And the opera is ended, fittingly, by the character who changes most during the events – princess Amneris, saying to the audience, the cast but most of all to herself: “Peace!”. An appeal which gains a profound significance in the uncertain world that surrounds us today.
Watch the trailer - Aida in 2016
First of the performances takes place on Thursday, October 6th.
New pictures of Aida
Here's the result >>>
Three performances of Aida
Opera "Aida" is again on the stage of Vanemuine Theatre in Tartu. Since the cast for this production consists of many nationalities - singers from Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia - the performances are quite rare. There are only three performances of "Aida" in the spring 2016. First of the three already on this Thursday.
This "Aida" has a happy ending – giving hope that a way out has to exist even from the most hopeless situation. And the opera is ended, fittingly, by the character who changes most during the events – princess Amneris, saying to the audience, the cast but most of all to herself: “Peace!”. An appeal which gains a profound significance in the uncertain world that surrounds us today.
Full video of "Aida"
Video interview about "Aida"
"Aida" at Birgitta festival
Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida", directed and designed by Madis Nurms is performed tomorrow August 12th at Pirita convent, Tallinn during the 11th Birgitta Festival.
Premieré of "Aida"
Aida rehearsals begin
"Aida" is the next opera production of Pärnu International Opera Music Festival PromFest. It is staged as a cooperation project with Vanemuine Theatre.
The stage director of the piece is Madis Nurms who also designs the set and costumes of the piece, musical director and conductor Erki Pehk, choreographer Teet Kask, lighting designer Margus Vaigur and Movement director Jelena Karpova.
The premiere is on May 20th 2015.
See desingns for "Aida" HERE
Premiere of "GO - a Game for Two" is today
Interview about "GO - a Game for Two"
"GO - a Game for Two" is an original ballet by Teet Kask, based on the music by Lepo Sumera. It premieres Saturday, October 25th at Theatre Vanemuine.
Sneak peek from the workshops
Here's an opportunity to see something before it is finished. Just a look at one of the costumes that are prepared for ballet "GO - a Game for Two" at the workshops of Theatre Vanemuine.
The first stage rehearsals of "GO" start tomorrow, October 7th.
First fittings of "GO - a play for two"
Today the first costume fittings of the ballet "GO - a play for two" took place at Theatre Vanemuine, Tartu. "GO" is an original ballet staged by Teet Kask, based on the music by Lepo Sumera.
Design for ballet "GO" transferred
Today the set and costume designs for an upcoming dance performance "GO - a Game for Two" were transferred to Theatre Vanemuine, Tartu. "GO" is an original ballet staged by Teet Kask, based on the music by Lepo Sumera.
The fabrics for the ballet are mostly ordered from Germany, though some of the materials have been found in vintage shops and some are fabric remnants rescued from large textile stores. The central colour used is vibrant orange - the color of the beginning and end - hue of the sunrise and sunset.
The design is quite minimal and uses geometric shapes, drawing inspiration from the works of the Italian Futurists and Soviet Constructivists in the beginning of the 20th century.
“GO” will have it's premiere on October 25th 2014.
See more sketches for the ballet HERE >>
The Video of Tsar's Bride
"Tsar's Bride" premiere today
"Tsar's Bride" rehearsals begin
See some pictures from the preparaton process HERE
Tsar's Bride announced
The new production of Tsar's Bride, opera by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was announced this Monday. The premiere is on June 6th 2013 at Endla Theatre, Pärnu.
"Attila" review in Teater.Muusika.Kino
"Attila" premiere in Kaunas, Lithuania
Last "Attila" today
"Attila" at the Birgitta Festival
"Attila" premiere
June 2nd 2011 opera "Attila" by G.Verdi will have it's first performance in Pärnu during the International Opera Music Festival PromFest. Opera is directed by Üllar Saaremäe, musical director Erki Pehk, scenography by Madis Nurms, choreography Oleg Titov, lighting design by Margus Vaigur.
"Attila" set comes together
The first modules of the set design were assembled in the workshops of Pärnu Theatre. Also an ad-clip for the opera was filmed on the stage of Pärnu Theatre. Here's an overview of the process by Estonian Public Broadcasting News:
“Attila” meetings in Kaunas and Pärnu
Monday 21st March Madis Nurms had meetings in the costume workshops of Kaunas State Musical Theatre, Lithuania and Pärnu Theatre Endla, Estonia.
Soloist costumes of "Attila" transferred
This week the costume drawings for the soloists of "Attila" were transferred to Endla theatre, Pärnu. “Attila” will have its premiere on June 4th 2011 during the Pärnu International Opera Music Festival PromFest.
The original production of Verdi’s rare masterpiece will be staged by acknowledged drama director and actor Üllar Saaremäe.
See the first sketches HERE>>
Die Fledermaus premiere
Today, in about one hour the curtains will open for "Die Fledermaus" production in Parktheater, Eindhoven.
The last try outs of Die Fledermaus
Yesterday was the last try out of Die Fledermaus in Burgas, Bulgaria. After the show set and costumes were packed and are now on their way to the Netherlands.
The first rehearsals with the Fledermaus set
The set is still missing some key elements and needs finishing touches but the overall image is there. The main focus is now shifting from the workshops to the costume department, where the soloists are having their first fittings.
You can see the pictures of the process HERE
In the Grand Theatre, Warsaw
Madis Nurms is on a two day trip to Warsaw Poland. There he will visit the National Opera called the Grand Theatre.
First Costumes of "Attila"
New images from the Fledermaus preparations
From December 6-12 Madis Nurms was in Burgas, Bulgaria overseeing the preparations for „Die Fledermaus“. See the photos HERE >>