James Milligan (singer)

James Milligan (5 April 1928 – 28 November 1961, Basel) was a Canadian singer who appeared in concerts and operas from the early 1950s until his death in 1961 at the age of 33. In the year of his death he achieved a major triumph at the Bayreuth Festival as Wotan, a.k.a. "The Wanderer", in Richard Wagner's Siegfried for which he achieved international fame. In 1957 he won first prize at the Geneva International Music Competition. His voice type has been variously labeled as either a baritone, dramatic baritone, bass-baritone, and a bass. Standing at nearly 6 foot 6 inches and possessing a trim athletic build, Milligan was visually striking on stage. This aspect in combination with a charismatic stage personality captivated audiences at theaters in Canada and Europe. His voice is preserved on several recordings made with the English conductor Malcolm Sargent for the EMI record label, and on several recordings made with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.