“Back in the day, Darlington consistently got the best out of his casts and musicians, and we have missed his steady professionalism and inspired musicality. Being able to see exactly how Darlington works his magic upfront was the single best part of the enterprise....

“The added draw, of course, was the chance to see Europe-based music director emeritus Jonathan Darlington (…) Electric voltage seemed to pass through his baton in the rousing orchestral and choral crescendos of the Easter-hymn “Regina Coeli, laetare”. Later he paused...

"The conductor for the evening was the Englishman Jonathan Darlington who has already many times before been a guest in the Semperoper orchestra pit. Born in 1958, he impressed on opening night with his feeling for tempo and drama. He led the singers,...

"The conductor is the only person who can connect and make that bridge. Your gestures have to give the musicians an idea as to what is going on on stage but I try and do that when working with the singers by mouthing the words so there's a connection." -...

"The feeling that the British conductor Jonathan Darlington - who was Music Director until 2011 of the Duisburg Philharmonic - had for tempi, drama and the interpretative whims of the singers, together with his vibrant and charismatic energy made him the...

"Leaving the supporting roles to one side let’s turn out attention to Jonathan Darlington who, in the fullest sense of the word “audible”, was the clear winner of the evening. Everything came together - the exactitude with which he allowed Puccini’s...

"Jonathan Darlington, the renowned British conductor on the international stage, accomplished a nuanced accompaniment for the singers with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. What was noticeable was the range of dynamics and fluidity of tempo together with...

'Only a few days ago Jonathan Darlington passed his trial by fire as the conductor of fine Don Carlo performances. With Elisir d'Amore he proves himself as well to be an expert as far as Donizetti is concerned. One could take this Englishman for a...

"There are evenings where perhaps not everything is perfect but something magical happens - the first Don Carlo of the 2019/2020 Vienna State Opera season is one such Godsend. It is not only because of the wonderful cast but also due to the musical...