Philip Langridge

Philip Langridge was born in Kent and studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London. He is one of the world's most distinguished singers, whose musical and dramatic qualities ensure that he is in constant demand throughout Europe, the USA and Japan. In recognition of these qualities, he was made a Commander of the British Empire in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 1994.

He has also received a number of other awards, including the prestigious Olivier Award for Osud, the Singer of the Year Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society and The Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Santay Award and the NFMS/Charles Groves Prize 2001 for his “outstanding contribution to British Music”.

His remarkable versatility and command of a wide variety of styles is reflected in his extensive discography, ranging from the early classical period to the present day. These recordings have gained him two Grammy Awards (Moses und Aron, and Peter Grimes), the Gramophone Award (War Requiem) and a Classic CD Award (Turn of the Screw). His recent recording of Death in Venice has been singled out for particularly high praise, including a Grammy nomination.

On video he can be seen in Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, Idomeneo, La Clemenza di Tito, From the House of the Dead, Wozzeck, Oberon, Jenufa and Oedipus Rex (which won the Classical Music Award).

International Festivals and Opera Houses with whom he is particularly closely associated include Salzburg, Metropolitan Opera New York, La Scala Milan, Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, Edinburgh, and English National Opera. His principal roles include new productions of Peter Grimes, Billy Budd, Death in Venice, Moses und Aron, Das Rheingold, Boris Godunov, The Rake's Progress, Idomeneo, La Clemenza di Tito, L’incoronazione di Poppea, Oberon, as well as numerous revivals. In 2001 he performed Palestrina for the first time at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to great critical acclaim.

In concert Philip Langridge has appeared with the world's major orchestras and leading conductors such as, Abbado, Barenboim, Bychkov, Davis, Gergiev, Haitink, Harnoncourt, Hickox, Levine, Mackerras, Masur, Mehta, Ozawa, Previn, Rattle and Solti.

Mr Langridge has given recitals with Steuart Bedford, Graham Johnson, John Constable, Peter Donohoe, Maurizio Pollini, Andras Schiff, and more recently with David Owen Norris (fortepiano) in a tour of Schubert's Die Winterreise, culminating in a performance at the Mozarteum Salzburg, to public and critical acclaim. Together with Mr Owen Norris he has now formed a trio with his daughter Jennifer Langridge playing the cello. They have recently recorded a CD of Georgian Songs.

Future engagements include Lulu, Manon and a new opera by Mark Anthony Turnage at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Hansel and Gretel and Le Nozze di Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera New York, and Der Rosenkavalier at Teatro Real Madrid and La Scala Milan. He also gives concerts at the Wigmore Hall.

Langridge is also well known for his communication master classes with young singers, and has appeared in this capacity in Salzburg, Paris, Munich, New York, Porto, Aix en Provence, The Britten Pears School, Royal College of Music, Royal Academy of Music and Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.