The King and I, Theatre Du Chatelet, Paris

“....James Holmes, conducting a  full symphony orchestra, steers a sensetive course between big band brashness and delicately cushioned accompaniment”    Francis Carlin / The Financial Times

“....the  magic baton of the Briton James Holmes, galvanises the Orchestre Pasdeloup, who embrace all the nuances of Rodgers's score.....”    Phillippe Chevilley / Les Echo

Symphony Silicon Valley debut concert

“Conducted with verve and considerable insight by James Holmes...”    Mercury News

Carousel, Grand Theatre Leeds and  London Barbican

“Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1945 hit...voted the best musical of the 20th century...and with conductor James Holmes approaching the score with a blend of authority and sheer love, it's a claim that looks entirely sustainable.”    The Guardian

“….the original orchestration realised glowingly under conductor James Holmes”   Independent

“James Holmes conducts with a musicianly care that few musicals receive...”   Seven

Magical Night, Royal Opera House

“...outstanding playing of the band of ten under James Holmes...ideally crisp and pungent...”    Kurt Weill Newsletter

Arms And The Cow, Opera North

“James Holmes and the orchestra bring an appropriate transparency...”    Opera Now

“James Holmes draws warm, supple playing from the orchestra...”    Daily Telegraph

One Touch Of Venus, Kurt Weill Festival, Dessau

“Holmes' musical direction was wonderfully idiomatic – the songs and ballets were beautifully shaped...”    Kurt Weill Newsletter

Sweeney Todd, Opera North

“James Holmes's incisive conducting kept one's ear constantly alert to the orchestral score's near-fabulous level of invention...”    Sunday Telegraph

One Touch Of Venus, Opera North

“James Holmes conducts with big-band relish...”    The Times

“Best of all are conductor James Holmes and the orchestra, who know exactly what they're doing with the score and could transfer to Broadway tomorrow.”   Independent on Sunday

Sweeney Todd, Welsh National Opera

“James Holmes draws taut, punchy, idiomatic playing from the orchestra”    Sunday Times

“The sound from the WNO orchestra under specialist James Holmes was a constant joy”    Opera Now

Street Scene, Opera North

“Impeccable style...you'd be hard pressed to hear the piece better played.”    Guardian

Lady in the Dark, Vienna Volksoper

“...peerless musical direction...James Holmes's conducting is revelatory...”    Kurt Weill Newsletter