Tuesday 23 March 2010

Death of Wolfgang Wagner

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Wolfgang Wagner, grandson of Richard Wagner, died on Monday 22 March 2010 at the age of 90. He had directed the Bayreuth Festival for over half a century.

Here are links to some obituaries.

 THE GUARDIAN .

THE TIMES

WASHINGTON POST

NEW YORK TIMES






Sunday 7 March 2010

Philip Langridge, CBE 1939-2010




The death of Philip Langridge has just been announced. This is devastating news for all his admirers, indeed for all music lovers. It is less than six months since I attended his 70th birthday recital at the Wigmore Hall. I also greatly enjoyed his Loge in the Covent Garden RING.


He was a gifted and versatile artist, and will be greatly missed. (I am heartbroken....just listening to him on Radio3, singing Peter Grimes, and I can feel tears pricking my eyelids....nevertheless, this afternoon I will listen to his recording of DEATH IN VENICE).


Here is a link to an obituary...
http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/theatre/opera/E8831267903225/Philip+Langridge+CBE,+1939-2010.html

And here are some more graphics of Langridge.
First, as the witch in HANSEL AND GRETELl!! (At the Met in New York, about two years ago).

Here he is as Peter Grimes, one of the many Britten roles in which he distinguished himself.



One of his more recent achievements was as Hiereus in Harrison Birtwistle's THE MINOTAUR.


Langridge's son Stephen was the director for THE MINOTAUR; here is a photograph of them together before the production.