Handel: Partenope – English National Opera

“Christian Curnyn’s replacement after he was taken ill at the first interval, William Cole, got the best results as throughout from the ENO Orchestra.”

The Arts Desk

“Christian Curnyn, who led ENO’s production in both 2008 and 2017, was taken ill after Act 1 and for the rest of the evening gave way to his accomplished assistant conductor, William Cole. Between them they drew playing of energised refinement from the ever-adaptable ENO Orchestra and coaxed some deliciously idiomatic playing from their predominantly modern instruments.”

Bachtrack

“But here it is worth spending time on the conductor William Cole first who has taken over from the originally-billed Christian Curnyn (who had to bow out at the first night after the first act and Cole, his assistant, stepped into the breach). The English National Opera Orchestra has rarely sounded better: the violin lines at speed were supremely together; rhythms were as tight as can be. This is a comic opera – Handel’s first – and there was a palpable buoyancy from the pit. Some superb wind and horn playing, too; it was a joy, not least because Cole’s tempos seemed absolutely perfect at each and every turn. Cole, who has conducted Albert Herring at Scottish Opera in 2024 and who was Assistant Conductor for ENO’s Rigoletto in late 2024, seemed to live and breathe Handel’s world – here is a major artist in the making.”

Seen and Heard 

“Sadly conductor Christian Curnyn (who had originally conducted this show in 2008) was taken ill after act one, but assistant William Cole led the show very effectively for the remaining two acts.”

The Telegraph

“The assistant conductor William Cole took over for the final two acts with idiomatic assurance.”

The Guardian

Britten: Albert Herring – Scottish Opera

“The other star is the orchestra. Britten’s transparent score gives no hiding place to the 13 musicians but their virtuosity sounds so relaxed that they never need one, and conductor William Cole keeps the ensemble tight as a drum.”
The Times

“The Scottish Opera orchestra are on exceptional, characterful form under eager direction from conductor William Cole”
The Stage

“The Orchestra of Scottish Opera was the perfect ensemble band: under the confident and inspirational leadership of William Cole, Benjamin Britten’s glorious music was given the space to flourish, every phrase finely shaped and each instrument sparkling with vivacity – you really could not ask for a more informed yet intuitive reading of the work.”
MusicOMH

“All of this is briskly supported by William Cole’s alert musical direction, and a chamber-sized Scottish Opera Orchestra alive to a score buzzing with textural virtuosity”
The Scotsman

“Conductor William Cole, another company debut, was as crucial to the singers as the players in his detailed direction.”
The Guardian

Brett Dean: Carlo

“Under William Cole’s precise direction [Brett Dean’s Carlo] made even more of an impression on me than when I first heard it 12 years ago.”
The Times