Recent Reviews
RAISING ICARUS
Birmingham Rep 2022
Each of the leads is crisply defined...The ending, when four of the characters come together as a Greek chorus to reflect on Icarus’s fall, is beautifully handled... The performances are all strong...
The Guardian
LA CENERENTOLA
Irish National Opera 2019
The staging and production values here were fabulous and totally irresistible… Rossini had a gift for comic confusion and director Orpha Phelan captured that aspect outstandingly well… overall, a triumph – and an important one for INO.
The Sunday Business Post
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
Opéra National de Lorraine 2019
Orpha Phelan is simply fantastic - she integrates the essence of text, angle and cinematography in authentic theatre and visual magnificence.
Opera Online (France)
A QUIET PLACE
Opera Zuid 2018
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Malmö Opera 2017
DEAD MAN WALKING
Royal Danish Opera 2017
FIDELIO
Longborough Festival Opera 2017
A challenging, provocative and highly rewarding evening. This is a director-designer duo whose careers will be fascinating to follow.
The Independent
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POWDER HER FACE
Royal Danish Opera 2016
A captivating, convincing, virtuosic staging. A production with the same warmth as Adès' music.
Berlingske
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BILLY BUDD
Opera North 2016
Orpha Phelan's attentive, top notch production brings this tremendous work into focus.
The Observer
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LA BOHÈME
Malmö Opera 2014
Pitch perfect. A brilliant female opera director.
Opera Magazine, Sweden
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COSÌ FAN TUTTE
Opera Theatre Company 2012
It’s a thoroughly entertaining but also strongly thought-provoking staging, and shouldn’t be missed.
Opera Britannia
An intelligent and sensitive production
The Irish Times
LES CONTES D'HOFFMANN
Malmö Opera 2011
Lively, stylish and entertaining. The Tales of Hoffmann must be considered gaming year's biggest bet at the Malmö Opera. Viewed from any angle it is of international class. Orpha Phelan’s result is outstanding: it is lively, elegant, entertaining.
Skanska Dagbladet
JENUFA
Malmö Opera 2011
Absolutely one of the most complete stagings I’ve ever seen in an opera.
Skanska Dagbladet
Orpha Phelan’s production packs a strong emotional punch.
Opera Now
I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI
Opera North 2008
Opera Australia 2009
At the Grand in Leeds, Orpha Phelan directs an expectedly hard-hitting and contemporary account of Bellini’s Romeo and Juliet opera, I Capuleti e i Montecchi and takes an audacious theatrical tilt at Bellini....
The Sunday Times