Langdon, Michael(real name, Frank Birtles)
Langdon, Michael(real name, Frank Birtles)
Langdon, Michael(real name, Frank Birtles), English bass; b. Wolverhampton, Nov. 12, 1920; d. Hove, Sussex, March 12, 1991. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music in London, and subsequently took voice lessons with Alfred Jerger in Vienna, Maria Carpi in Geneva, and Otakar Kraus in London. In 1948 he joined the chorus at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London; made his operatic debut there in 1950. In subsequent years, he sang with many of the major opera houses of the world. On Nov. 2, 1964, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Baron Ochs. He created several bass roles in operas by Benjamin Britten; was also noted for his command of the standard operatic repertoire. After his retirement from the stage in 1977, he was director of the National Opera Studio (1978–86). In 1973 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He publ. Notes from a Low Singer (with R. Fawkes; London, 1982).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire