Die Zauberflöte: “In diesen heil’gen Hallen”

Stephen Milling sings an excerpt from Sarastro’s Act II aria in the final dress rehearsal. Production: Simon McBurney. Conductor: Nathalie Stutzmann. 2022–23 season.

[samsylvester]

End plosives are a thing, you know?! Why cut away the d at the end? It's Land, you can only hear Lan... 😮

[scottydawg]

I love the juxtaposition between this aria and The Queen of the Night's. The Queen's is intense, with fast-paced strings and high notes that are a challenge to even sing at all, let alone enunciate loud enough for an entire opera hall to hear over a full orchestra with no amplification. Sarastro's, on the other hand, is slow, relaxed, and sweet, with notes all the way at the other end of the vocal spectrum. It sounds elegant and even a little holy, kind of like an old hymn you might sing in church on Sunday. The polar opposite of the Queen's, which is extremely fitting considering the fact that the pair are supposed to be polar opposites of each other.

[reviewsvoiceontube]

I think it is more about repertoire than category. Some bass voices are great Sarastros and Osmins but not Hundings or Fafners..some bass baritones and I would see S. Milling as such have dark tone and resonance to sing certain bass roles but here I would like a bit more gravitas..

[ohmy]

Amazing vocally & all. Tempo allowing a lighter approach too. Nice. Bet it's a wonderful production.

[MrGHorf]

Well done Mr. Milling! You sound great!

[jrock]

I just saw the HD transmission of Die Zauberflote and I was in attendance (2nd row) for the holiday version back in December. Soloman Howard's bass vocals hit me square in the chest. I don't feel that same power here from Mr. Milling.

[Grazie]

Su voz no es tan profunda como he oído de otros.
Profunda en su resonancia y colocación.

[alshin]

The era of bad baritones strutting around as “basses”

[GeoBonn]

Sorry, but it seems that Mr Milling doesn't really know how to pronouns the words. Foe me as an classic-addicted German it's hard to understand him, even if I know the text.

[ydduar]

good voice, no emotion, no strength.