Opera Star Philip Gordon Langridge Dies at Age 70

English tenor and opera star Philip Gordon Langridge died in England at the age of 70 from cancer, according to the New York Times.

Langridge was born in Hawkhurst, Kent, educated at Maidstone Grammar School and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Langridge's most recent onstage appearance was this year in "Hansel and Gretel," playing the Witch. He starred in many other productions at the Met including Ferrando in "Cosi Fan Tutte," Prince Shuisky in Mussorgsky's "Boris Godunov," Loge in "Das Rheingold," Don Basilio in "Nozze di Figaro," Captain Vere in "Billy Budd," and Peter Grimes in "Peter Grimes."

He also won great acclaim for his assumption of the title role in Elgar's oratorio, "The Dream of Gerontius." He recorded many of his famous roles, including  Quint in "The Turn of the Screw."

In 1986 he created the role of Orpheus in "The Mask of Orpheus." He also sang The Lawyer in the world premiere recording of "Punch and Judy" (1989) and created the roles of Kong in "The Second Mrs Kong" and Hiereus in "The Minotaur."  Langridge was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to music in 1994.

He is survived by his wife, the Irish mezzo-soprano Ann Murray, and his children Jonathan, Stephen, Anita, and Jennifer.