Philip Gordon LangridgeCBE (16 December 1939 – 5 March 2010)[1] was an English tenor,[2] considered to be among the foremost exponents of English opera and oratorio.[3][1]
Langridge was admired for his fine singing technique coupled with keen dramatic instincts. His repertoire was broad, ranging from the operas of Claudio Monteverdi and Mozart to more modern works by Ravel, Stravinsky, Janáček and Schoenberg. At the end of his life, he was adding some Wagner roles, including Loge from Das Rheingold. Langridge was also a fine concert singer and regularly performed the sacred music of Bach and Handel. He also won great acclaim for his portrayal of the title role in Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. In later years, Langridge frightened and delighted families with his portrayal of the witch in Hansel and Gretel at the Metropolitan Opera holiday production.
For all his versatility, he was at his most distinguished performing the works of Benjamin Britten.[5] Britten composed much of his vocal music specifically for his artistic and life partner, tenor Sir Peter Pears. Many regarded Langridge as Pears' true successor because they shared similar vocal qualities and brought uncommon immediacy to the music they performed. He recorded many of his famous roles, including Peter Grimes and the Prologue / Quint in The Turn of the Screw, as well as all the orchestral song cycles for tenor voice.
He was married to Irish mezzo-sopranoAnn Murray until his death from bowel cancer. Langridge is survived by their son Jonathan Philip (born 1986),[8] and his three adult children from his previous marriage: Anita, Jennifer,[1] and opera director Stephen.[9]
