John Lankston
Born1934 (1934)
Bridgeport, Illinois
DiedJuly 12, 2018(2018-07-12) (aged 85–86)
Bridgeport, Illinois
Education
Occupations

John Lankston (1934 - July 12, 2018)[1] was an American tenor and actor who had a career in opera and musical theatre from the 1950s through the 2000s. After making his Broadway debut in Redhead (1959), he went on to create the roles of Adolph and the Ziegfeld Tenor in Jule Styne's Funny Girl (1963) in which he was a featured soloist with Barbra Streisand. For his work, he and the rest of the main cast were awarded the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards.[2] He was a regular performer with the New York City Opera from 1966 to 2001. His greatest success with the NYCO was his creation of the quintuple role of Voltaire/Pangloss/Businessman/Governor/Gambler in the 1982 revival of Leonard Bernstein's Candide which was directed by Hal Prince and filmed for national broadcast on PBS's Live from Lincoln Center.[3][4] The company later recorded the production on disc, and Langston and the rest of the artists involved were awarded the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1987.[5]

Lankston most often performed supporting roles in his long tenure at the NYCO, often appearing in comedic character roles or villains. Occasionally he was given leading roles, including the title role in the United States premiere of Josef Tal's Ashmedai in 1976 in which his skills as both a singer and dancer were featured.[6] Other larger parts he excelled in included the Prologue in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw (1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978);[7] Arbace in Mozart's Idomeneo (1974, 1975);[8] Eisenstein in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus (1976, 1986);[9] the Devil in Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat (1977),[10] Officer Olim in Kurt Weill's Silverlake: A Winter's Tale (1980);[11] Satan/Lucifer in Igor Stravinsky's The Flood (1982);[12] Ko-Ko in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado (1984, 2001);[13] Monostatos in Mozart's The Magic Flute (1985, 1992);[14] and Torquemada in Maurice Ravel's L'heure espagnole (1990, 1999).[15] With the NYCO he notably appeared in several world premieres, including the roles of Major Mark Lyon in Hugo Weisgall's Nine Rivers from Jordan (1968);[16] Professor Clement in Gian Carlo Menotti's The Most Important Man (1971);[17] Bentley Drummle in the world premiere of Dominick Argento's Miss Havisham's Fire (1979);[18] and Dr. Sokolsky in the world premiere of Jay Reise's Rasputin (1988)[19] He also portrayed Šapkin In the United States premiere of Leoš Janáček's From the House of the Dead (1989).[20] His portrayal of The Schoolmaster in Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen was broadcast on PBS's Live from Lincoln Center in 1983.[4]

Life and career

Born in Bridgeport, Illinois, Lankston was the son of Jason Lankston.[1] He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1952 and then pursued music studies at Vincennes University from which he graduated in 1954.[1] He then pursued further music studies in opera at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.[1] While there he also trained in ballet and modern dance.[1] After graduating, he moved to New York City in 1958 where he was soon cast in the chorus of Albert Hague and Dorothy Fields 1959 musical Redhead starring Gwen Verdon; eventually replacing William LeMassena as Howard Cavanaugh during the show's run.[1] In 1961 he created the role of Lord Delmore in the original Broadway production of Robert Wright and George Forrest's operetta Kean at the Broadway Theatre, 53rd Street, which closed after 92 performances.[1] In 1963 he portrayed Louis in the New York City Center revival of Pal Joey. starring Bob Fosse.[21] That same year he created the roles of Adolph and the Ziegfeld Tenor in Jule Styne's Funny Girl, and was the featured tenor with Barbra Streisand in the song "His Love Makes Me Beautiful."[2] For his work on the cast recording he was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards.[2]

After Funny Girl closed, Langston pursued further studies in opera in Germany before joining the roster of artists with the New York City Opera (NYCO) in 1966, making his debut as Pedrillo in Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio.[3] He recorded that role on film four years later with the Peter Herman Adler's National Educational Television Opera on the NET network.[22] He rose to become a huge star with NYCO, appearing in numerous operas with the company for 35 years.[3] His last performance with the company was as Ko-Ko in The Mikado in 2001. In addition to performing with the NYCO, Lankston also portrayed Anfinomo in the United States premiere of Monteverdi's Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria in 1974 with the Washington National Opera.[23] In 1984 he starred in the American premiere of Harrison Birtwistle's Down by the Greenwood Side with the New York Philharmonic.[24] He also portrayed the villainous Loge in Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold at the Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park with conductor Christopher Keene in 1985.[25]

Lankston died in Bridgeport, Illinois, on July 12, 2018, at the age of 84.[3]

NYCO roles

1960s and 1970s

1980s

1990s

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Donna Burton (August 15, 2018). "John Lankston, Opera Singer". Lawrence Lore. Lawrence County, Illinois Historical Society.
  2. 1 2 3 Jennifer Ballantyne (March 26, 2014). "Funny Girl: Original Broadway Cast Recording 50th Anniversary Edition to Be Released by Capitol/UMe". Business Wire.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Francisco Salazar (July 17, 2018). "Obituary: John Lankston Dies at 84". Opera Wire.
  4. 1 2 Brian O'Doherty; Rebecca Krafft (1991). The Arts on Television, 1976-1990; Fifteen Years of Cultural Programming. National Endowment for the Arts. ISBN 9780160359262.
  5. ↑ Henry Schipper (March 4, 1987). "Music Records: Vets Dominate Grammy Awards; Simon's Graceland Is Top LP; Gabriel, Jackson Empty Handed". Variety. Vol. 326, no. 6. p. 113.
  6. 1 2 Harold C. Schonberg (April 2, 1976). "The Opera: Ashmedai by City Troupe". The New York Times.
  7. 1 2 Theodore Strongin (March 2, 1970). "Turn of the Screw Staged by Off Broadway's Mann". The New York Times.
  8. 1 2 Raymond Ericson (March 10, 1974). "Unafraid, a New Music School Opens". The New York Times.
  9. 1 2 "Low-Key Fledermaus Given by City Opera". The New York Times. November 8, 1976.
  10. 1 2 Harold C. Schonberg (April 24, 1977). "Opera: 'Trilogy' by City Company". The New York Times.
  11. 1 2 3 Dan Dietz (2016). The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442260924.
  12. 1 2 Jennifer Dunning (June 11, 1982). "City Ballet Opens 8-Day Celebration of Stravinsky". The New York Times.
  13. 1 2 Will Crutchfield (September 5, 1984). "City Opera Mikado Assembles". The New York Times.
  14. 1 2 Tim Page (October 21, 1985). "Opera: Magic Flute Performed in English". The New York Times.
  15. 1 2 John Rockwell (November 12, 1990). "Review/Opera; Ravel and Sendak, Affectionately Paired". The New York Times.
  16. 1 2 Harold C. Schonberg (October 10, 1968). "Opera: 'Nine Rivers From Jordan' Has Premiere; City Troupe Performs Hugo Weisgall's Work Johnston Libretto Full of Religious Symbolism". The New York Times.
  17. 1 2 Margaret Ross Griffel (2013). Operas In English: A Dictionary. Scarecrow Press. p. 329. ISBN 9780810883253.
  18. 1 2 Harold C. Schonberg (March 23, 1979). "City Opera: Miss Havisham" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 45.
  19. 1 2 Donal Henahan (September 19, 1988). "Review/Music; Mad Monk Redux in City Opera's New Rasputin". The New York Times.
  20. ↑ John Rockwell (August 30, 1990). "Review/Opera; American Premiere of Janacek's House of the Dead". The New York Times.
  21. ↑ Lewis Funke (May 30, 1963). "Theater: Pal Joey Back; Once Wicked Musical Opens at City Center". The New York Times.
  22. ↑ "N.E.T. Hits More High C's". The New York Times. July 26, 1970.
  23. ↑ Harold C. Schonberg (January 20, 1974). "Opera: The Ulysses of Claudio Monteverdi Voyages to America in High Style". The New York Times.
  24. ↑ John Rockwell (June 10, 1984). "Horizons: New-Music Festival Ends". The New York Times.
  25. ↑ John Rockwell (June 2, 1985). "Opera: Das Rheingold in Artpark Production". The New York Times.
  26. ↑ "City Opera to Offer A New Mefistofele in Season's 2d Week". The New York Times. September 7, 1969.
  27. ↑ Theodore Strongin (September 15, 1970). "Figaro Back at State Theater With Moments of Radiance". The New York Times.
  28. ↑ Raymond Ericson (September 19, 1970). "Corsaro's Direction Is Strength Of 'La Traviata' by City Opera". The New York Times.
  29. ↑ Harold C. Schonberg (October 17, 1970). "A Striking Production Of Roberto Devereux". The New York Times.
  30. ↑ Allen Hughes (December 21, 1970). "2 Sopranos Bow in Orfeo At Met". The New York Times.
  31. ↑ Alvin H. Marill (1993). More Theatre: M-Z. Scarecrow Press. p. 1197. ISBN 9780810827172.
  32. ↑ Harold C. Schonberg (March 10, 1973). "Music: Elegant Poppea". The New York Times.
  33. ↑ Donal Henahan (September 5, 1974). "The Anna Bolena of Sills". The New York Times.
  34. ↑ Harold C. Schonberg (September 9, 1974). "City Opera: A New Manon Lescaut". The New York Times.
  35. ↑ Donal Henahan (March 3, 1975). "City Opera: Strasfogel's New Salome". The New York Times.
  36. ↑ Harold C. Schonberg (April 3, 1975). "City Opera Tote Stadt Exploits Film Technique". The New York Times.
  37. ↑ John Rockwell (September 15, 1975). "Opera: Ariadne Is Back". The New York Times.
  38. ↑ Donal Henahan (September 22, 1975). "Nancy Tatum Sings Lead in City Opera Turandot". The New York Times.
  39. ↑ "Carole Farley Has Debut as Helene". The New York Times. October 21, 1976.
  40. ↑ Harold C. Schonberg (April 3, 1978). "Opera: Beverly Sills As Merry Widow". The New York Times.
  41. ↑ Raymond Ericson (February 24, 1979). "City Opera, Now 35, Opens Season With Chenier". The New York Times.
  42. ↑ Anna Kisselgoff (April 9, 1979). "Balanchine–Robbins Work for Nureyev from Moliere". The New York Times. p. 45.
  43. ↑ Harold C. Schonberg (October 12, 1979). "Music: City Opera Is Back With 'Falstaff' in English". The New York Times.
  44. ↑ Peter G. Davis (October 24, 1979). "Opera: Malfitano Manon". The New York Times.
  45. ↑ John Simon (September 15, 1980). "From Old Vienna To Heidelberg". New York.
  46. ↑ Donal Henahan (April 10, 1981). "City opera: Janacek's Little Vixen". The New York Times.
  47. ↑ Bernard Holland (November 8, 1981). "City Opera: June Anderson in Lucia". The New York Times.
  48. ↑ Donal Henahan (July 19, 1984). "Review City Opera: Season's First Showing of Candide". The New York Times.
  49. ↑ Donal Henahan (March 8, 1982). "City Opera: L'amore dei tre rei". The New York Times.
  50. ↑ Donal Henahan (September 14, 1985). "Opera: New Production of Love for 3 Oranges". The New York Times.
  51. ↑ Donal Henahan (November 2, 1985). "City Opera: Casanova". The New York Times.
  52. ↑ Donal Henahan (August 16, 1986). "City Opera: Cendrillon with Faith Esham". The New York Times.
  53. ↑ Donal Henahan (July 18, 1986). "City Opera: Le nozze di Figaro". The New York Times.
  54. ↑ Michael Kimmelman (October 8, 1987). "City Opera: New Cast in Twin Bill". The New York Times.
  55. ↑ Allan Kozinn (July 13, 1991). "Review/Opera; A Resourceful Tosca Draws a Lot on the Past". The New York Times.
  56. ↑ Allan Kozinn (July 24, 1988). "Reviews/Music; Reshuffle in Romberg New Moon". The New York Times.
  57. ↑ Edward Rothstein (September 6, 1991). "Review/City Opera; Bride Arrives, Without Her Fidelity". The New York Times.
  58. ↑ Bernard Holland (August 31, 1992). "Review/City Opera; A Barbiere Worthy of Trust With Both Head and Heart". The New York Times.
  59. ↑ Edward Rothstein (October 8, 1993). "Review/Music; New Milieu for Monroe: City Opera's Marilyn". The New York Times.
  60. ↑ "John Lankston". Ovrtur. 2021.
  61. ↑ Bernard Holland (March 6, 1995). "Opera Review; Puccini in Rare Form, But Also Pure Puccini". The New York Times.
  62. ↑ Bernard Holland (April 6, 1995). "Music Review; Harvey Milk, a Gay Opera as a Grand Coming-Out Party". The New York Times.
  63. ↑ Bernard Holland (October 21, 1995). "Music Review; Resurrecting a Daydream of the Exotic East". newspaperThe New York Times.
  64. ↑ Alex Ross (April 4, 1996). "Opera Review; France, Anti-Semitism and an Innocent Man". The New York Times.
  65. ↑ Peter G. Davis (September 25, 1995). "The Agony and the Ecstasy: City Opera makes a gallant attempt to stage Hindemith's Mathis der Maler". New York.
  66. ↑ Allan Kozinn (September 16, 1999). "Opera Review; In Long-Lost Rossini, Tributes to a French King". The New York Times.
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