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.

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.

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.

Full video of "I Capuleti e i Montecchi"

Video of the 2019 production of Bellini's sparkling masterpiece "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" is now available in full length at the Youtube channel of Pärnu International Opera Music Festival PromFest.


New pictures of "I Capuleti"

Here is a selection of fresh images from the Lithuanian premiere of Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" caught by photographer Domas Rimeika.

"I Capuleti" premiere in Lithuania

Today Bellini's bel canto masterpiece "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" will have it's second premiere, the opening night in Lithuania, on the stage of the National Kaunas Drama Theatre. 

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"

See how the bel canto masterpiece Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" is coming together in the workshops of Kaunas State Music Theatre in Lithuania. 

Have a look at "I Capuleti" design

The set and costume designs for an upcoming staging of V.Bellini's "I Capuleti e i Montecchi" are transferred to Kaunas State Music Theatre in Lithuania. Based on these drawings both the set and costumes are made in the workshops of the theatre. Delve into the world of models and drawings here:

New production of "I Capuleti e i Montecchi"

Today the new production of Bellini's opera "I Capuleti e i Montecchi " will be publicly announced. Premieré of this bel canto masterpiece is scheduled to take place on  May 19th, 2019 at Endla Theatre, Pärnu. The stage director of the production is Katrin Tegova, musical director Erki Pehk, set and costume designer Madis Nurms and lighting designer Margus Vaigur.

"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"

The full performance of PromFest production of Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata" is now available on YouTube.  Winners of the Klaudia Taev Competition for opera singers lead the cast of this gloomy story.
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.

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.

"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.

"Tsar's Bride" premiere in Lithuania

Tsar's Bride by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov will have it's premiere tomorrow, November 16th, 2013 at the Kaunas State Musical Theatre, Lithuania.

Last "Tsar's Bride" in Estonia

The last chance to see the production of N.Rimsky-Korsakov's opera "Tsar's Bride" in Estonia is on Thursday, August 15th 2013.  The performance will take place at the Brigitta Festival in Tallinn. The staging is specially adapted to the venue - a medieval monastery on the coast of Pirita bay. 

"Tsar's Bride" rehearsals begin

Last week marked the beginning of stage-rehearsals for Rimsky-Korsakov's "Tsars Bride".

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" 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

April 18, 20-21 Madis Nurms spent in the workshops of Kaunas State Music Theatre, Lithuania and Pärnu Theatre Endla, Estonia. The gallery of the process can be found HERE >>

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: 

 

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>>


First Costumes of "Attila"

From December 16-17 Madis Nurms was in Kaunas where the first costumes of "Attila" were prepared.