REVIEWS - 2011

Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Enter the top-hatted Pogner, Alastair Miles, and though he is no black-voiced German bass, he is still magnificent, making one wish, as all great Pogners do, that he didn’t have such long absences from the stage. His scene with his daughter Eva at the start of Act II was as moving as anything in the opera, as it should be.

Michael Tanner, The Spectator

The mastersingers were all strongly cast, pride of place going to Alastair Miles as an immensely sympathetic Pogner, whose warm bass sound and sense of melodic line made his passages of narration as enjoyable as they should be.

musicalcriticism.com

Alastair Miles’s Pogner was in every sense the voice of experience.

The Independent

Alastair Miles (in terrific voice) is dogmatic yet touching as Pogner.

Entartete Musik

Lucrezia Borgia, English National Opera

Alastair Miles, aside from possessing an extremely powerful bass-baritone, also gave one of the most dramatically captivating performances of the evening in his role as Lucrezia Borgia’s husband, Alfonso d’Este. His dark, expansive and open sound, coupled with perfect diction, soared over ENO’s excellent orchestra with perfect ease, and his tall, imposing figure and confident manner on stage added real dramatic weight to his performance.

musicomh.com

The bass Alastair Miles was vocally stentorian and aptly censorious as Lucrezia's husband.

New York Times

Alastair Miles’s bass is dark, and his gestures sturdy.

londonist.com

Alastair Miles sang with notable elegance as the creepy Mr Lucrezia Borgia (aka Duke d’Este).

The Observer

There are equally strong performances from Alastair Miles as Lucrezia’s appalling husband Alfonso.

The Guardian

As Lucrezia’s repulsive husband, Alastair Miles is an appreciable asset.

The Stage

Alastair Miles (that rare thing, a lithe bass) had fun with Alfonso.

The Independent

Alastair Miles gives a sharply etched portrayal as Alfonso, Lucrezia’s husband.

whatsonstage.com

Alastair Miles was darkly expressive and managed a welcome degree of physical characterisation that carried to my balcony seat.

intermezzo.com

Alastair Miles brought a vivid, wicked persuasive and manipulative delight to his role as he twisted his voice around Rutter’s and this was the high point of the evening for me.

gscene.com

Alastair Miles’s sturdily sung Alfonso...

Financial Times

Alastair Miles is a fine Titian-look-a-like Alfonso d’Este.

Wall Street Journal

The image of the real Alfonso, Alastair Miles spits and thunders with authority.n

Independent on Sunday

Alastair Miles is an imposing Alfonso.

The Opera Critic

Alastair Miles was a mellifluous and sonorous Alfonso d’Este.

classicalsource.com

Great to see and hear the wonderful bass of Alastair Miles, an ENO favourite, here in the part of Alfonso d’Este, still magnificently resonant of voice and with wonderful stage presence born of huge experience.

musicweb-international.com