Dominic Wheeler conductor

If the sight of the conductor mounting the podium with his left arm in a sling spread dismay among the audience eagerly anticipating this rare chance to hear Rossini's grand opéra, it was firmly dispelled by the thrilling account of the famous overture that Dominic Wheeler's strong right arm drew from the COG orchestra. Neither was there any falling off in dramatic tension throughout a performance that ran for four hours with only the dance sequences cut.

Dominic Wheeler conducted a heavenly orchestral performance, light and swaying and with all Donizetti's insouciant brilliance: a pity that directors don't realise how much of the work this miraculous score will do if you let it...

I've rarely heard the ETO orchestra play so well - except the night before at Don Pasquale.

...the orchestra plays merrily, stylishly and sensitively under its real conductor, Dominic Wheeler

Wheeler obtains a spry performance of the sparkling score from the orchestra.

And there’s an added bonus in the pit, where the real conductor, Dominic Wheeler, obtains exceptionally crisp playing from the ETO Orchestra — without indulging in a single megalomaniac hissy-fit. Clearly he won’t go far in the profession.

Dominic Wheeler conducts with a good ear for colour, rhythmic clarity and a wide range of dynamics.

Elsewhere the young professionals of Independent Opera, both singers and orchestra, acquit themselves with distinction under Dominic Wheeler’s authoritative guidance: the whole enterprise feels exceptionally well run in.

Stephen McNeff has edited the music with great sensibility for 35 players, and much of the original's kaleidoscope of colours and textures was preserved.

Even more significantly, the alert conductor Dominic Wheeler held a fine balance between voice and orchestra which allowed tetxual nuances to be communciated with ideal clarity.