Irish Opera Director Orpha Phelan joins Hazard Chase
Orpha Phelan studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, read economics at University College Galway and was awarded a masters in Arts Criticism from City University, London. She has trained in Japanese Noh Theatre since 2001, both in Japan and with the Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble in the USA.
Her directing credits include Iolanta and Gianni Schicchi for The Royal Academy of Music, Le Nozze di Figaro for Graz Opera/Wagner Forum Graz, Sumidagawa for The Britten Festival and Le Nozze di Figaro for Opera North at Hampton Court Palace. As an assistant director she has worked at Glyndebourne, Opera North and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.
In 2005, in collaboration with designer Leslie Travers, Orpha was awarded The Ring Award Audience Prize for their production of Le Nozze di Figaro (Graz Opera/Wagner Forum Graz). In 2003 she received second prize for her concept of Hans Heiling (Strasbourg Opera/Opera Europa) in The European Opera Director's Prize.
In October 2008 Orpha will direct Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi for Opera North. The production will then move on to Opera Australia in 2009 (to be conducted by Richard Bonynge) and to Opera Ireland in 2010.
