The Audience reacts to La bohème
Thursday, 23 November, 2023
Critic and audience reactions to Giacomo Puccini's La bohème.
La bohème is showing at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from 20-26 November 2023.
“rarely has Puccini looked or sounded better” - The Arts Review - Chris O'Rourke ★★★★★
“magic informs every moment of Orpha Phelan’s breathtaking direction and Sergio Alapont’s flawless conducting” - The Arts Review - Chris O'Rourke ★★★★★
“under Phelan’s exceptional direction, even the silence sings.” - The Arts Review - Chris O'Rourke ★★★★★
“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” - The Arts Review - Chris O'Rourke ★★★★★
Read the full review from The Arts Review here.
“an emotionally-charged, masterful production of this classic tear-jerker” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★★
“Nicky Shaw's sets and costume designs are spot-on, readily capturing the gritty, bohemian atmosphere” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★★
“[Celine Byrne] soared gracefully, her golden soprano capturing not only Rodolfo's heart, but that of the audience too. She has that magnificent ability to weave a gossamer thread of melody with delicacy and also, when needed, to launch forth with stunning power. From her “Sì, mi chiamano Mimì” to her deathbed moments, she ravished the ear.” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★★
“There was real chemistry between Byrne and Merũnas Vitulskis' Rodolfo, the Lithuanian tenor proving a worthy counterpart.” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★★
“Sarah Brady makes for a feisty Musetta, singing her famous waltz song with verve and seductive brilliance” - Bachtrack - Andrew Larkin ★★★★★
Read the full review from Bachtrack here.
“The best thing about the production is the energy of the four bohemian lads: baritones Iurii Samoilov as the painter Marcello, and Gyula Nagy as the musician Schaunard; bass Lukas Jakobski as the philosopher Colline; and the earnest tenor Merūnas Vitulskis as the complex poet Rodolfo.” - Irish Independent - Katy Hayes
“Celine Byrne is a wonderful Mimì, the dying scene so carefully crafted vocally that between her and Puccini’s rising death-crescendo, you cannot fail to be moved.” - Irish Independent - Katy Hayes
“Conductor Sergio Alapont brings a terrific boisterous energy to these comic elements.” - Irish Independent - Katy Hayes
Read the full review from The Irish Independent here.
“Orpha Phelan (...) gets all the antics right” - The Irish Times - Michael Dungan ★★★★
“Waiters, ladies, gentlemen, street vendors, children, mothers, musicians and soldiers are all in constant happy motion, a three-ring circus brought merrily to life by the INO Chorus and the Independent Theatre Workshop Children’s Chorus” - The Irish Times - Michael Dungan ★★★★
Read the full review from The Irish Times here.
“... the orchestra must be a star, doing the work of creating momentum; here, under conductor Sergio Alapont” - Irish Examiner - Alan O’Riordan ★★★★
“Celine Byrne has made the show her own” - Irish Examiner - Alan O’Riordan ★★★★
Read the full review from The Irish Examiner here.
“Irish soprano Sarah Brady excelled as Musetta bringing great presence and humour, especially in her Marlene Dietrich tails in the second act street scene” - No More Workhorse - Gearóid O'Byrne
“Ukranian baritone Iurii Samoilov was superb as Marcello as was Hungarian baritone Gyula Nagy as Schaunard and Polish bass Lukas Jakobski as Colline” - No More Workhorse - Gearóid O'Byrne