It's been more than 2½ years since I've written a diary. But I was moved by this news and haven't seen anything else on it. I'm heading it Breaking because I can't even find any news posts on it, just a few blogs.
I was listening to the Met broadcast of Atilla this afternoon and heard the announcement from our local radio station that Philip Langridge died today 'after a brief illness'. Cannot even find any specifics on the illness. If you know anything, please add in the comments.
Philip Langridge was born on Beethoven's birthday (December 16th) in 1939. He was one of the finest lyric tenors of his generation– a singer of great artistry and depth of psychological characterization. The voice itself was very clear and bright.
He first came to my attention in the early 80's as Tom Rakewell in Ricardo Chailly's recording of The Rake's Progress. And he immediately became one of 'those singers' for me– i.e., someone whose very presence in a cast was a matter of interest.
Mostly I knew him from broadcasts, telecasts and recordings. Two roles that he undertook on Met broadcasts stand out for me:
- Loge in Das Rheingold where he was up against the formidable competition of Gerhard Stolze. Much as I loved Stolze, I have to say that Langridge was the superior musician.
- Captain Vere in Billy Budd. This was shown on national TV sometime in the late 90's with Dwayne Croft in the title role and James Morris as Claggart under the baton of Steuart Bedford. It was in the production by John Dexter that was simultaneously deeply theatrical and true to the music.
It is from this latter role that the quote in the title comes.
I was lost upon the infinite sea
Britten writes a long and difficult melisma on the first syllable of 'infinite'. To just sing it competently is an achievement, but Langrdige managed to pack it with the pain and bewilderment of human existence. The sound of it haunts me to this day.
Finally, I heard the great man in a live performance. I was on a work assignment in Sydney in 2005. I saw that Opera Australia was running a production of Britten's Death in Venice. Could it be possible that Langridge would be singing Aschenbach. And indeed so it was. It's Britten's last opera and by no means his most accessible. I don't have a lot specific to say about it today, but I was not disappointed in the performance. And he was 65 years old at the time!
I see from Wikipedia that he was awarded the CBE in '94. The entry there is inadequate to the accomplishments of this great man. I hope his death will provide the occasion for filling it out with more detail.
Farewell, great soul!