I want to be immediately up front about this. Irish National Opera’s latest production of Puccini’s La Bohème at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre should be seen by everybody who has an interest in opera in Ireland. Or maybe, more correctly, those who have not seen any opera at all in Ireland. It is by far the best production of Puccini’s masterpiece I have ever witnessed at home, or even on video, film or television. As well as being incredibly beautiful visually, it had that real hallmark of a special production – it radiated confidence from start to finish. On an opening night, that is really something special to behold. And, despite such a sad tale, even joyous... The production values were immensely impressive and so director Orpha Phelan and her team deserve credit...This was a night to remember for the full-house audience.

★★★★★ Dick O'Riordan, Business Post

How to have something new to say in one of the most celebrated operas of all time? This was the challenge facing director Orpha Phelan in Irish National Opera's new production of La bohème. By setting the opera in Paris in the 1930s, assembling a stellar cast of singers and with no little help from the realistic sets, costumes and the super-responsive orchestra, she succeeded in creating an emotionally-charged, masterful production of this classic tear-jerker... Phelan’s conception of the work is faithful, yet inventive, stressing both the amusing and tragic elements as they come. A magnificent Bohème.

★★★★★ Andrew Larkin, bachtrack.com

Phelan takes us not to the 19th century, but to the interwar years in the French capital. La Bohème sweeps us along on a wave of emotion. Irish National Opera have created a worthy production of Puccini's great work.

★★★★ Alan O'Riordan, Irish Examiner

In Irish National Opera’s production of La Bohème, finally taking to the stage in all its spectacular splendour, magic informs every moment of Orpha Phelan’s breathtaking direction... under Phelan's exceptional direction even the silence rings. This is a production defined, in no small measure, by Phelan.

Opera presents additional challenges to directing for theatre, leaving many directors leaning into staid tableaux and looking out of their depth. What makes INO’s La Bohème so thrilling is the sweep and richness of movement married to the stirring quality of its singing, both housed in the most gorgeous staging. Phelan’s refreshingly exciting compositions a whirlwind of expressive energy that leave you struggling to tear your eyes away to read the surtitles. Even though you know how it all ends, Phelan has you hoping against hope it might yet be otherwise whilst teasing out oft forgotten themes... A tragic tale that’s an absolute joy, Phelan delivers a tour-de-force.

★★★★★ Chris O'Rourke, theartsreview.com

Puccini's opera is full of antics and Orpha Phelan gets them all right, from joyous mayhem to emotional darkness.

★★★★ Michael Dungan, The Irish Times

La Bohème Opèra Orchestre National Montpellier 2024

The production of La Bohème by Orpha Phelan turns out to be a great success and ranks among the three best that I have seen, along with those of Robert Carsen and Kristian Frédric. Orpha Phelan combines the qualities to triumph on Broadway while being an arty and inspired director. Let’s point out three highlights. At the end of the first act, we see previously covered painted canvasses rise and reveal a portrait, split into four or five detailed views of Mimi. At the end of the second act, the children create an "arch" of bright red balloons, around the couple Marcello and Musetta, like an ephemeral triumphal arch to the glory of love. At the start of the last act, we see bailiffs seizing the property of the destitute roommates under the haughty eye of Mr. Benoit who expresses his disgust for a painting by Marcello...

The direction of the actors is very effective, as much for the soloists as for the chorus and the extras... Everything is very readable, very dynamic (especially the changes of scene at high speed), very fluid, very convincing, teeming with details which disperse neither the vision nor the emotion, and is capable of seducing the most diverse audiences.

ODB

How do you find something new in one of the most famous operas of all time? Irish director Orpha Phelan has taken on this challenge in her new production of the opera La Bohème, by placing the opera in the crazy Paris of the 1930s, between two devastating world wars... The set design and costumes by Irish-English designer Nicky Shaw appear at first glance to be extremely conventional… but the realistic stage and costumes responded very quickly in harmony with an incredibly crazy and fantastical staging that we haven't seen in a long time. The director and her collaborators have succeeded in creating numerous emotionally charged, masterful and nostalgic images, as in one of the classic tearjerker films of the time. Let's not forget the beautiful, lyrical painting of English lighting designer, Matt Haskins. Phelan's conception of the work is faithful yet imaginative, emphasizing both the amusing and tragic elements.

IOCO

A production by Orpha Phelan that is both full of vitality and sensitive to details. The cast of young soloists stirs the emotions of Puccini’s characters in a new staging which refreshes, without betraying, the adventures of the poor students of Murger. Attention to detail highlighted with beautiful – and sometimes rare – accuracy.

Classic Agenda

Stylized staging, elegant and graceful direction, in a modern and invigorating interpretation, “La Bohème” delights Montpellier! Twelve years since Puccini's masterpiece was performed here…the three performances of La Bohème were taken by storm. It is the direction of Orpha Phelan, indistinguishable from the sets and costumes of Nicky Shaw, which immediately catches the eye... and which hits the spot. She chose to move the action to the Paris of the interwar period, an era whose modernity has not aged a bit in a century. The concept is a perfect springboard to unleash our imagination, our emotions... and above all the expression of an impeccable cast. More than their youth and their diversity, it is their commitment, their homogeneity and their talent in acting as in singing which amaze, throughout the four acts of the opera.

Le Maine Libre, Jérémy Bernède

The production by Orpha Phelan and her team… is cleverly articulated, relevant, expressive… We are gripped by this reading.

Forum Opera

An efficient, simple and direct Bohème in Montpellier. We must thank Orpha Phelan for not giving in to minimalist fashion. She delivers a Bohemia in a concept that some could describe as wise, but undoubtedly effective, simple and direct. The design – by Nicky Shaw – is particularly reminiscent of the Viaduc des Arts, a simple and discreet but above all a blissful reference in this context of crossing artists.

Operaonline

Che gelida manina! Se la lasci riscaldar” (How cold this little hand is! Let me warm it up) sings the student Rodolfo to his neighbor, Mimi. Director Orpha Phelan skillfully chooses this reference of the hands because it symbolizes their experience, romantic as well as social, via this iconic tune…

Première Loge

The direction by Irish director Orpha Phelan integrates these elements well: two women at the opposite end of the romantic spectrum. The submissive and humble Mimi and the sparkling and voluptuous Musetta… Transposed to the 1930s, the plot takes place in a space cleverly shared by a dynamic set [Nicky Shaw] and highlighted by the lighting design of Matt Haskins.

LOKKO