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.

Les Contes d'Hoffmann

Have a peek through the looking glass into the curious world of Offenbach's "Les Contes d'Hoffmann" where nothing is quite what it seems...
Here are a virtual stage model and costume sketches made for an international directing competition. The competition aimed at selecting the best artistic concept for opera “Les Contes d’Hoffmann”, to be staged as a new production in the 2022 / 2023 Season.

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.


Experimental "La Dispute" in Berlin

"La Dispute", a comedy written by one of the most important French playwrights of the 18th century Pierre de Marivaux will open on the stage of UNI.T theater Berlin in May 2020.

The intriguing story features orphans  who have been raised in isolation, from the world and from each other. An aristocrat releases these human guinea pigs into a sinister Garden of Eden to solve the question of whether man or woman is more faithful. Topics of  love, sex and jealousy take on a new form in this experimental adaptation that not only mixes up the characters but also fuses  Marivaux' brilliant text with movement and music.

Take a stroll in the 3D model of the production and see some costume drawings to get started.

Full video of "Xiaodie"

Now you can see the full video of modern dance performance "My name is Xiaodie but you can call me baby" online.
"Xiaodie" explores the pleasures found in technology and is danced to the beat of live music mix by Hannaliisa Uusma.

Exhibition of costumes in Pärnu



On May 13, an exhibit of the works by designer Madis Nurms will be opened in Pärnu. The opening of the exhibition also marks the beginning of the international opera festival PromFest.

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. 

Last three "Aidas"

After four years of performances its time to say goodbye to the production of G.Verdi's "Aida". 

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.

Ballet "GO" on tour in China

Ballet "GO - a Game for Two" travels to China next week for guest performances at major cities Shanghai, Dalian and Hangzhou. "GO" is an original ballet staged by Teet Kask, based on the music of Lepo Sumera that had its premiere in 2014.

"La belle Hélène" in Berlin

On December 17th a christmas production of "La belle Hélène" will have its premiere at the Universität der Künste Berlin.  "La belle Hélène", otherwise known as "The Beautiful Helen" or "Die schöne Helena", is an opéra bouffe in three acts by Jacques Offenbach. The piece revolves around the story of Helen's elopement with prince Paris, which set off the Trojan War.

Have a look here for the costume drawings and a sneak-peek video.

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.

"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


"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.”

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.

"Kratt" guest performances IN Tartu

Today ballet "Kratt" (The Goblin) by Eduard Tubin has two long anticipated guest performances at Vanemuine Theatre, Tartu.

The choreographer of the piece is Marina Kesler, music director Vello Pähn, set designer Madis Nurms, costume designer Gerly Tinn, lights by Karmen Tellisaar and video by Argo Valdmaa.

Watch the trailer - Aida in 2016

Opera "Aida" is on the stage of Vanemuine Theatre in Tartu for last three times this year.
First of the performances takes place on Thursday, October 6th.

Rescuers parade Uniform on the red carpet

Foto: Erlend Štaub (Postimees)

Member of the parliament Mr. Artur Talvik wore a festive uniform designed for volunteer sea rescue teams at the reception of the President of the Republic of Estonia and Mrs. Ieva Ilves on the Estonian Independence Day. Talvik is well-known Estonian film producer and screenwriter.

Video teaser of ballet "Kratt"

Production preview video of ballet "Kratt" (Goblin) at the Estonian National opera. Some parts of the set design will make their debut at the end of this video.


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" 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: