Last three "Aidas"

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

"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


Last "Aida" this year


Last performance of "Aida" in 2016 starts this Sunday, November 27 at 16:00.

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

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.

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.

Article about blackface in opera

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 >>

"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. 

Giuseppe Verdi took a principled stand on human rights. He never visited Egypt and in his correspondence he has stated that he could never admire the Ancient Egyptian civilization that had based its achievements on slavery and authoritarian power. In the libretto of “Aida” too, what fascinated him beyond the glitter of Egypt, was the impotence of man before the theocratic state. And thus PromFest’s “Aida” has no painted pyramids and bronzed slave boys, it is instead an attempt to explore the limits of the grand political spectacle, which casts nations into the whirlwind of war and changes the fates of hundreds at a whim.