Philip Langridge

Philip Langridge CBE (born 16 December 1939) is an English tenor considered to be among the foremost exponents of English opera and oratorio.

Langridge was born in Hawkhurst, Kent, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He started his career as an orchestral violinist, which exposed him to a greater variety of music than professional singers ordinarily experience.

Langridge is admired for his fine technique coupled with keen dramatic instincts. His repertoire is broad, ranging from the operas of Claudio Monteverdi and Mozart to more modern works by Ravel, Stravinsky, Janáček and Schoenberg. He has recently endeavoured to add some Wagner roles, including Loge from Das Rheingold. Langridge is also a fine concert singer and regularly performs the sacred music of Bach and Handel. He has also won great acclaim for his assumption of the title role in Elgar's oratorio, The Dream of Gerontius.

For all his versatility, he is at his most distinguished performing the works of fellow countryman Benjamin Britten. Much of Britten's vocal music was written specifically for his artistic and life partner, tenor Sir Peter Pears. Many regard Langridge as Pears' true successor because they share similar vocal qualities and bring uncommon immediacy to the music they perform. He has 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.

In 2008, Langridge created the role of Hiereus in Sir Harrison Birtwistle's opera The Minotaur at the Royal Opera House.

Langridge was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music in 1994. He is married to Irish mezzo-soprano Ann Murray. He has a son, Jonathan, with her, as well as three adult children from a previous marriage.