Nov 2019

Opera "Zanaida" by Johann Christian Bach. Premiere 7.11.2019 Staatstheater Mainz

"Estonian designer Madis Nurms fills the almost empty Mainz stage with fantastic costumes: out of the skulls of macho king Tamasse and his relatives grow ram horns decorated with pearls and gold – as a sign of ruthless authority. Zanaida and her followers, on the other hand, carry a third eye on their foreheads, which represents the way to intuition, wisdom and knowledge"

Ursula Böhmer. Deutschlandfunk 11.11.2019

"There is practically no stage set, only levels that move vertically and props to make it all the more conspicuous: a wobbly throne of the unstable adolescent king Tamasse, the mirror frame that offers few moments of self-assurance, a monstrous guillotine and sort of space shuttle on which the virtuous Zanaida is elevated, surrounded by lightbeams. Or a flamingo herd through which the Numidians and the Punians strut for political repartee"

Franziska von Busse .WDR. 08.11.2019

Costume drawings

3D model

"The Numidians, as the inhabitants of a fantasy planet are called in Mainz, have horns: king Tamasse crooked, deformed, his mother Roselane on the other hand, oversized, threatening. They wear glistening apparel. Thus it becomes evident already from the costumes who they are: instinctual, power-obsessed beings. Opposite are the Punians, who come to make peace between the warring planets and have brought the princess Zanaida as a guarantee and bride, accompanied by women in white, in the robes of chaste sisters. They look like human beings except for their third eye on their forehead"

Franziska von Busse .WDR. 08.11.2019

Makeup design

Set drawings

Zanaida

Opera by Johann Christian Bach. Premiere 7.11.2019 Staatstheater Mainz

Musical director: Adam Benzwi
Stage director: Max Hopp
Scenography: Madis Nurms
German libretto: Doris Decker
Light: René Zensen
Dramaturg: Christin Hagemann
Choreographer: Martina Borroni

Zanaida: Alexandra Samouilidou
Roselane: Hege Gustava Tjønn
Mustafá: Brett Carter
Tamasse: Alin Deleanu
Osira: Dorin Rahardja
Cisseo: Philipp Mathmann
Gianguir: David Bennent
Dancers: Ageliki Gouvi, Yuya Fujinami, Martina Borroni