Kaffe Kantate is Bach’s original comic opera about a daughter defying her father’s demand to stop drinking coffee, deemed inappropriate for women. Naujoji Opera and Italala Caffe, both based in Vilnius, Lithuania, have reimagined the piece, blending opera with coffee tasting and storytelling about coffee history between performances.

To merge Bach, opera, and coffee in the design, an ironic cross-stitched coffee cup was chosen. This playful visual satirizes the stereotypical expectations of womanhood from the 18th century. It also ties into specialty coffee experience during the event. The coffee-inspired palette, led by the cross-stitched motif, unifies the design across printed materials, reinforcing the unique blend of history, humor, and coffee culture.

As a creative, I was tasked with designing a stage concept that suited a very small space while staying true to the event’s vision. I chose a theatrical curtain-inspired design, with the iconic embroidered cup as a symbolic backdrop.

The premiere attracted local celebrities and received media coverage, including one of Lithuania’s largest TV networks and major news portals.