Philip Langridge Movies

Orginally inspired by Frank Wedekind's plays Pandora's Box (1904) and Earth Spirit (1895), the Alban Berg opera Lulu courted much controversy for its unusually lurid depictions of sex and violence. It tells of the wanton and promiscuous character of the title, a young woman whose self-destructive tendencies and casualness with her own body lead her to a brutal death at the hands of Jack the Ripper. This particular version was mounted for the stage by the Royal Opera House, with minimalist staging by director Christof Loy and a cast that includes Agneta Eichenholz as Lulu, Michael Volle as Jack the Ripper, Klaus Florian Vogt as Alwa and Jennifer Larmore as Countess Geschwitz. The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House lends symphonic accompaniment under the direction of concert master Peter Manning and the baton of maestro Antonio Pappano; Herbert Murauer did the set design; and Eva Mareike Uhlig created the costumes. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Written in 1945, Benjamin Britten's opera is based on a poem by George Crabbe and set in a small English coastal village in 1830. Peter Grimes is a brusque and impolite fisherman whose stock with the villagers is low, especially after his apprentice dies under circumstances that arouse suspicion among the townsfolk. Only Ellen Orford, the local teacher, stands up for Grimes, for whom she has deep feelings. A new apprentice, John, is located at the town workhouse, and Ellen helps Grimes fetch him, which brings forth criticism from onlookers. Meanwhile, a fierce storm begins brewing and is at full gale when Ellen returns with John. Against the protests of the assembled, Grimes takes the new apprentice onto his ship, in spite of the fierce weather. Later, Ellen is concerned about a bruise she has spied on John's neck. She tells Grimes that peace of mind cannot be bought by dint of hard labor, angering the fisherman, who hits her. A mob forms to apprehend Grimes. At his hut, Grimes hears the mob coming and forces John out the back of the hut. In the rush and hurry, John accidentally falls from a cliff. Grimes escapes, and the townspeople search for John. Some nights later, a raving Grimes reappears, just after the death of the apprentice has been confirmed. Grimes sails his boat away and sinks it, following it into its watery grave. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

The Glyndebourne Festival Opera mounted this 1991 performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera seria La Clemenza di Tito (1791), commemorating the 200th anniversary of the work. With the traditional libretto by Pietro Metastasio and Caterino Mazzolà, and newly composed secco recitatives authored Stephen Oliver and commissioned by Glyndebourne, it stars Philip Langridge as Tito, Ashley Putnam as Vitellia, Diana Montague as Sesto, and Martine Mahé as Annio. The Glyndebourne Chorus, under the leadership of chorus master David Angus, and London Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Stephen Bryant, lend musical accompaniment to the production. David Fielding designed the sets and a pre-Madness of King George Nicholas Hytner directs for the stage. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Herman Melville's classic story of persecution and misplaced justice in the British navy is adapted for the operatic stage in this production, with libretto by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier, and music by Benjamin Britten. Billy Budd stars Philip Langridge, Thomas Allen, Neil Howlett, and Richard Van Allen; David Atherton conducts the English National Opera Orchestra, and Tim Albery directs. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Based upon Georg Büchner's 1837 play, Alban Berg's Wozzeck details the harsh existence of the title character, a former soldier in the German army who has to struggle mightily to make a living, even as others around him prosper. Wozzeck (Franz Grundheber) is living with Marie (Hildegard Behrens), a former prostitute and the mother of his young son. Somewhat simple in the head, Wozzeck's mental state seems to be increasingly unsettled, and he begins to see visions. Marie worries about him but does not know what she can do. Meanwhile, Wozzeck has agreed to be part of a dietary experiment by a doctor (Aage Haugland), who seems pleased with his patient's increasing instability. While Wozzeck is out, Marie allows herself to be seduced by a flirtatious drum major (Walter Raffeiner). Wozzeck suspects that something has occurred, a suspicion that is inflamed when the doctor and a captain for whom Wozzeck works taunt him with hints about Marie's faithlessness. His visions growing wilder, Wozzeck stabs and kills Marie, then drowns himself, leaving his son alone in the cruel world. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

This musical production features the Glydebourne Festival Opera as they perform the Mozart classic, Idomeneo. ~ Rovi