The solo exhibition Character by scenographer Madis Nurms opens on September 13 at the Gallery of Pärnu Keskus, offering an intimate glimpse into the intricate world of PromFest’s stage costumes. This unique exhibition showcases striking costumes from the festival’s international opera productions dating back to 2007. The exhibition is designed by Indrek Aija.
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.
In the October issue of Estonian magazine Teater.Muusika.Kino an article by Madis Nurms about color stereotypes can be found.
The article looks into the color conventions in representing the popular characters in the contemporary productions of nineteenth century opera. In other words: the tendencies of costume designers to pair certain colors with particular roles.
Nurms succeeded splendidly in walking on the edge of different eras - images and colors referring to 20th century cubism and Art Nouveau with contemporary refined, playful fashion design, all united under the term "stylization"
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
Here's an opportunity to peek into the workshops and get a glimpse of some of the costumes that are prepared for short-ballet "Nocturne".
The costumes are made using laser cutting technology. A laser is used to cut abstract patterns into different materials. All the fabrics that are picked for the ballet play with light - are either sheer, luminous or reflective. The design uses them together with the cutting technology and directional theatre lights to create an unique visual effect and to highlight the dancers movements in the darkness.
Two seasoned dancers Reet Paavel and Ülle Toming, both in their sixties, use their changed bodies to tell a story about their love for dance. The world of professional dance can be ruthless - in each passing year, many of its brightest stars are replaced by fresher, much younger bodies. While experience and longevity are respected, the dancers need to be on the stage dies hard.
Promising young choreographer Indrek Kornel now explores the themes of changing bodies and the urge to stay active in a piece both nostalgic and light-hearted. The main subject is how to find ways for retired dancers to reinvent themselves as the world around them is inevitably changing. The performance is set to the music of Sergei Prokofiev and uses an excerpt of Ludwig van Beethoven’s sonata.
An original ballet Undine by Marina Kesler premieres May 29th in the Estonian National Opera.
It is loosely based on the 1939 play “Ondine” by French dramatist Jean Giradoux and revolves around soulless water nymphs undines. Though inspired by mythical concept, the ballet explores day-to-day themes of faithfulness, jealousy and rage.
In the main roles are soloists of Estonian National Ballet and Tallinn Ballet School.
Undine, also spelled Ondine, is a mythological figure of European tradition, a female water nymph who becomes human when she falls in love with a man but is doomed to die if he is unfaithful to her.
Undine was first mentioned in the writings of the Swiss author Paracelsus, who put forth his theory that there are spirits called “undines” who inhabit the element of water. The word is from the Latin unda, meaning “wave” or “water.”
See the design HERE >>In the March issue of Estonian magazine Teater.Muusika.Kino an article by Madis Nurms about blackface makeup and it’s usage in opera can be found. Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used by performers to represent a black person. By the mid-20th century, changing attitudes about race and racism effectively ended the prominence of blackface makeup used in performance in theatre. One major exception is opera where blackface is still today widely regarded as normal and acceptable.
Contemporary scenographer can approach the usage of black makeup in operas like “Aida” and “Otello” in basically three different ways: a) use it in decorative fashion - see it separated from it’s social context and historical background b ) in declaratory way - using it to stress the issues of race and racism ( a la Hans Neuenfels ) or c ) to abandon its use altogether.
Full article (in Estonian) can be read HERE >>
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.
“The Goblin” is the first Estonian ballet as well as Eduard Tubin’s first work for a music theatre. The work is based on a mythical character from Estonian folklore, the Goblin, whose sole purpose is to serve his greedy master, the Farmer, in obtaining riches. In Marina Kesler’s rendition, the story crosses the borders of one nation’s folklore: in a contemporary money-hungry world the Goblin is like a voice in people’s head, finding excuses why there is never enough money.
The preparations of ballet "Kratt" ("The Goblin") are well on their way in the Workshops of Estonian National Opera. The ballet is based on Estonian folklore, the composer of the piece is Eduard Tubin, choreographer Marina Kesler, stage designer Madis Nurms, costume designer Gerly Tinn, lights by Karmen Tellisaar and video by Argo Valdmaa.
See the design HERE >>
In September 2015 a new production on "Kratt" ("The Goblin") - a ballet by Estonian composer Eduard Tubin will be staged at the Estonian National Opera. The choreographer of the production will be Marina Kesler, set designer Madis Nurms.
See the design HERE >>
Today the set and costume designs for an upcoming staging of G.Verdi's "Aida" were transferred to Theatre Vanemuine, Tartu.
The premiere of "Aida" will be on May 20th 2015 and it will be a co-production between Pärnu Inernational Opera Music Festival PromFest and Tartu Theatre Vanemuine.
See more sketches for the opera HERE >>
Solo exhibition of Madis Nurms was opened on the opening night of Teet Kask's ballet "GO - a Game for Two" in the small house of Vanemuine Theatre, Tartu.
Although the designer has mainly created costumes for the opera, this exhibition is focused on his costumes for dance and performances.
On display are stage costumes from different productions and though costumes are usually designed to be viewed from a distance, the audience now has an opportunity to have a closer look and also to feel the materials used.
"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.
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.
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.
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 opening ceremony of International Green Week (Grüne Woche) is held today January 16th in Berlin, Germany. This year the lavish ceremony is organized by Estonia. The ceremony is directed by Estonian choreographer Teet Kask, video design is by an innovative audiovisual company Thor Productions, costumes by Madis Nurms and lighting design by Margus Vaigur.
Tsar's Bride by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov will have it's premiere tomorrow, November 16th, 2013 at the Kaunas State Musical Theatre, Lithuania.
This week the preparation process of the opening ceremony of International Green Week (Grüne Woche) takes place in Berlin, Germany.
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.
See some pictures from the preparaton process HERE
Hear the interview about the exhibition by Tõnis Kipper at a local Radio Kadi in Estonian
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.
The last chance to see the ballet "Ohlala...Ça c’est passé comme ça" by Tõnu Veiler in Estonia on Monday, June 4th 2012.
The costumes of G.Verdi's "Attila" shown at the solo exhibition of works of Madis Nurms travel back to Kaunas tomorrow, March 13th. Rest of the exhibition will stay opened until March 31st.
On April 2nd 2012 a Paris-inspired ballet "Ohlala...Ça s’est passé comme ça" will premieré at the Russian Theatre, Tallinn
On thursday, 1 March an solo exhibition of Madis Nurms will be opened at the Tartu Art School. The exhibition focuses on the role of the designer in theater, the visitors are introduced to the process where sketches, drawings and models form the visual basis of a performance.
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.
On June 4th the ballet divertissement "Underwater Kingdom"
will have its second performance on the stage of Russian Theatre, Tallinn.
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:
Read the second part of the article by Madis Nurms about nakedness and its reception in opera productions. The article was published in the magazine Teater.Muusika.Kino and is in Estonian. The first part of the article was published in the December, second in the February issue.
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>>
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 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
Madis Nurms is on a two day trip to Warsaw Poland. There he will visit the National Opera called the Grand Theatre.
From December 6-12 Madis Nurms was in Burgas, Bulgaria overseeing the preparations for „Die Fledermaus“. See the photos HERE >>
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