Last three "Aidas"

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

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.

"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


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

"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. 

"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.

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


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.

"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.

Premieré of "Aida"


Today marks the premieré of G.Verdi's opera "Aida" at Theatre Vanemuine, Tartu

In the main roles are winners of Klaudia Taev Competition  Jomante Shlezhaite (Lithuania) and Angelina Shvachka (Ukraine).  Radames is sung by Eduard Martyniuk (Belarus).  The stage director of the piece is Madis Nurms, conductor Erki Pehk, choreographer Teet Kask lighting designer Margus Vaigur, movement director Jelena Karpova. 



Aida rehearsals begin

This week marks the beginning of stage rehearsals of Verdi’s „Aida“ at Theatre Vanemuine.

"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 





Designs for "Aida" transferred

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 >>


Exhibition of dance costumes in Tartu

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. 












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 >>