John Lankston Explained
John Lankston (1934 - July 12, 2018) 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.[1] 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.[2] [3] 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.[4]
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.[5] Other larger parts he excelled in included the Prologue in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw (1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978);[6] Arbace in Mozart's Idomeneo (1974, 1975);[7] Eisenstein in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus (1976, 1986);[8] the Devil in Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat (1977),[9] Officer Olim in Kurt Weill's Silverlake: A Winter's Tale (1980);[10] Satan/Lucifer in Igor Stravinsky's The Flood (1982);[11] Ko-Ko in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado (1984, 2001);[12] Monostatos in Mozart's The Magic Flute (1985, 1992);[13] and Torquemada in Maurice Ravel's L'heure espagnole (1990, 1999).[14] 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);[15] Professor Clement in Gian Carlo Menotti's The Most Important Man (1971);[16] Bentley Drummle in the world premiere of Dominick Argento's Miss Havisham's Fire (1979);[17] and Dr. Sokolsky in the world premiere of Jay Reise's Rasputin (1988)[18] He also portrayed Šapkin In the United States premiere of Leoš Janáček's From the House of the Dead (1989).[19] His portrayal of The Schoolmaster in Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen was broadcast on PBS's Live from Lincoln Center in 1983.[3]
Life and career
Born in Bridgeport, Illinois, Lankston was the son of Jason Lankston.[20] He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1952 and then pursued music studies at Vincennes University from which he graduated in 1954.[20] He then pursued further music studies in opera at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.[20] While there he also trained in ballet and modern dance.[20] 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.[20] 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.[20] 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."[1] For his work on the cast recording he was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album at the 7th Annual Grammy Awards.[1]
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.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2]
NYCO roles
1960s and 1970s
- Major Mark Lyon in Hugo Weisgall's Nine Rivers from Jordan (1968)[15]
- Nereo in Arrigo Boito's Mefistofele (1969)[26]
- Prologue in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw (1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1978)[6]
- Basilio in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (1970, 1971)[27]
- Gastone in Giuseppe Verdi's La traviata (1970, 1972, 1982, 1991, 1992)[28]
- Lord Cecil in Gaetano Donizetti's Roberto Devereux (1970)[29]
- Kaspar in Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors (1970, with the American Boychoir School)[30]
- Professor Clement in Gian Carlo Menotti's The Most Important Man (1971, world premiere)[16]
- Roger Doremus in Lee Hoiby's Summer and Smoke (1972)[31]
- First Praetorian soldier in Claudio Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (1973)[32]
- Arabace in Mozart's Idomeneo (1974, 1975)[7]
- Hervey in Donnizetti's Anna Bolena (1974)[33]
- Dancing Master in Puccini's Manon Lescaut (1974)[34]
- Second Jew in Richard Strauss' Salome (1975)[35]
- Victorin in Erich Korngold's Die tote Stadt (1975)[36]
- Dancing Master and Scaramuccio in Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos (1975, 1982, 1983)[37]
- Pong in Puccini's Turandot (1975)[38]
- Achille in Jacques Offenbach's La belle Hélène (1976)[39]
- Eisenstein in Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus (1976, 1986)[8]
- the title role in Josef Tal's Ashmedai (1976, United States premiere)[5]
- the Devil in Stravinsky's L'Histoire du soldat (1977),[9]
- Bogdanovich in Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow (1978, 1988)[40]
- L'Incredibile in Umberto Giordano's Andrea Chénier (1979)[41]
- Bentley Drummle in the world premiere of Dominick Argento's Miss Havisham's Fire (1979)
- Sailor in Henry Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (1979)[42]
- Dr. Caius in Verdi's Falstaff (1979, 1981, 1999)[43]
- Guillot in Jules Massenet's Manon (1979, 1985)[44]
1980s
- Officer Olim in Kurt Weill's Silverlake: A Winter's Tale (1980)[10]
- Detlef in Sigmund Romberg's The Student Prince (1980, 1987)[45]
- The Schoolmaster in Leoš Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen (1981, 1983, 1991, 1993)[46]
- Lord Arturo Bucklaw in Donnizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor (1981, 1982, 1988)[47]
- Voltaire/Pangloss/Businessman/Governor/Gambler in the 1982 revival of Leonard Bernstein's Candide (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989)[48]
- Flaminio in Italo Montemezzi's L'amore dei tre re (1982)[49]
- Satan/Lucifer in Igor Stravinsky's The Flood (1982)[11]
- The Beadle in Stephen Sondheim's (1984, 1987)[10]
- Ko-Ko in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado (1984, 2001)[12]
- Trouffaldino in Sergei Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges (1985, 1986)[50]
- Monostatos in Mozart's The Magic Flute (1985, 1992)[13]
- Marquis de Lisle in Dominick Argento's Casanova's Homecoming (1985, 1987)[51]
- the Master of Ceremonies in Jules Massenet's Cendrillon (1986)[52]
- Curzio in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (1986)[53]
- Beppe in Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci (1987)[54]
- Spoletta in Puccini's Tosca (1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994)[55]
- Admiral de Jean in Sigmund Romberg's The New Moon (1988)[56]
- Dr. Sokolsky in the world premiere of Jay Reise's Rasputin (1988)[18]
- Šapkin In the United States premiere of From the House of the Dead https://books.google.com/books?id=90s9AQAAIAAJ&q="John+Lankston"
1990s
Notes and References
- News: Funny Girl: Original Broadway Cast Recording 50th Anniversary Edition to Be Released by Capitol/UMe. Jennifer Ballantyne. Business Wire. March 26, 2014.
- Web site: Obituary: John Lankston Dies at 84. July 17, 2018. Francisco Salazar. Opera Wire.
- Book: The Arts on Television, 1976-1990; Fifteen Years of Cultural Programming. Brian O'Doherty. Rebecca Krafft. National Endowment for the Arts. 1991. 9780160359262 .
- Music Records: Vets Dominate Grammy Awards; Simon's Graceland Is Top LP; Gabriel, Jackson Empty Handed. Henry Schipper. Variety. March 4, 1987. 326. 6. 113.
- News: The Opera: Ashmedai by City Troupe. Harold C. Schonberg. April 2, 1976. The New York Times.
- News: Turn of the Screw Staged by Off Broadway's Mann. The New York Times. March 2, 1970. Theodore Strongin.
- News: Unafraid, a New Music School Opens. Raymond Ericson. March 10, 1974. The New York Times.
- News: Low-Key Fledermaus Given by City Opera. The New York Times. November 8, 1976.
- News: Opera: 'Trilogy' by City Company. Harold C. Schonberg. April 24, 1977. The New York Times.
- Book: The Complete Book of 1980s Broadway Musicals. Dan Dietz. 2016. Rowman & Littlefield. 9781442260924 .
- News: City Ballet Opens 8-Day Celebration of Stravinsky. Jennifer Dunning. June 11, 1982. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera Mikado Assembles. Will Crutchfield. The New York Times . September 5, 1984.
- News: Opera: Magic Flute Performed in English. Tim Page. October 21, 1985. The New York Times.
- News: Review/Opera; Ravel and Sendak, Affectionately Paired. John Rockwell. November 12, 1990. The New York Times.
- Web site: Opera: 'Nine Rivers From Jordan' Has Premiere; City Troupe Performs Hugo Weisgall's Work Johnston Libretto Full of Religious Symbolism. Harold C. Schonberg. The New York Times. October 10, 1968.
- Book: Operas In English: A Dictionary. 2013. Scarecrow Press. Margaret Ross Griffel. Margaret Ross Griffel. 329. 9780810883253 .
- News: City Opera: Miss Havisham. Harold C. Schonberg. Harold C. Schonberg. March 23, 1979. The New York Times. 45.
- News: Review/Music; Mad Monk Redux in City Opera's New Rasputin. Donal Henahan. September 19, 1988. The New York Times.
- News: Review/Opera; American Premiere of Janacek's House of the Dead. registration . John Rockwell. August 30, 1990. The New York Times.
- Book: John Lankston, Opera Singer. Donna Burton. Lawrence County, Illinois Historical Society. Lawrence Lore. August 15, 2018.
- News: Theater: Pal Joey Back; Once Wicked Musical Opens at City Center. Lewis Funke. The New York Times. May 30, 1963.
- News: N.E.T. Hits More High C's. The New York Times. July 26, 1970.
- News: Opera: The Ulysses of Claudio Monteverdi Voyages to America in High Style. Harold C. Schonberg. January 20, 1974. The New York Times.
- News: Horizons: New-Music Festival Ends. John Rockwell. The New York Times. June 10, 1984.
- News: Opera: Das Rheingold in Artpark Production. John Rockwell. June 2, 1985. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera to Offer A New Mefistofele in Season's 2d Week. September 7, 1969. The New York Times.
- News: Figaro Back at State Theater With Moments of Radiance. The New York Times. September 15, 1970. Theodore Strongin.
- News: Corsaro's Direction Is Strength Of 'La Traviata' by City Opera. Raymond Ericson. September 19, 1970. The New York Times.
- News: A Striking Production Of Roberto Devereux. Harold C. Schonberg. October 17, 1970. The New York Times.
- News: 2 Sopranos Bow in Orfeo At Met. Allen Hughes. December 21, 1970. The New York Times.
- Book: More Theatre: M-Z. Alvin H. Marill. Scarecrow Press. 1993. 1197. 9780810827172.
- News: Music: Elegant Poppea. Harold C. Schonberg. March 10, 1973. The New York Times.
- News: The Anna Bolena of Sills. Donal Henahan. September 5, 1974. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: A New Manon Lescaut. . September 9, 1974. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: Strasfogel's New Salome. Donal Henahan. March 3, 1975. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera Tote Stadt Exploits Film Technique. . April 3, 1975. The New York Times.
- News: Opera: Ariadne Is Back. John Rockwell. September 15, 1975. The New York Times.
- News: Nancy Tatum Sings Lead in City Opera Turandot. Donal Henahan. The New York Times . September 22, 1975.
- News: Carole Farley Has Debut as Helene. The New York Times. October 21, 1976.
- News: Opera: Beverly Sills As Merry Widow. Harold C. Schonberg. April 3, 1978. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera, Now 35, Opens Season With Chenier. Raymond Ericson. The New York Times . February 24, 1979.
- News: Balanchine–Robbins Work for Nureyev from Moliere. Anna Kisselgoff. April 9, 1979. The New York Times. 45.
- News: Music: City Opera Is Back With 'Falstaff' in English. Harold C. Schonberg. October 12, 1979. The New York Times.
- News: Opera: Malfitano Manon. Peter G. Davis. The New York Times. October 24, 1979.
- From Old Vienna To Heidelberg. New York. John Simon. September 15, 1980.
- News: City opera: Janacek's Little Vixen. Donal Henahan. April 10, 1981. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: June Anderson in Lucia. Bernard Holland. November 8, 1981. The New York Times.
- News: Review City Opera: Season's First Showing of Candide. Donal Henahan. July 19, 1984. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: L'amore dei tre rei. Donal Henahan. March 8, 1982. The New York Times.
- News: Opera: New Production of Love for 3 Oranges. Donal Henahan. September 14, 1985. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: Casanova. Donal Henahan. November 2, 1985. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: Cendrillon with Faith Esham. Donal Henahan. August 16, 1986. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: Le nozze di Figaro. Donal Henahan. July 18, 1986. The New York Times.
- News: City Opera: New Cast in Twin Bill. Michael Kimmelman. October 8, 1987. The New York Times.
- News: Review/Opera; A Resourceful Tosca Draws a Lot on the Past. Allan Kozinn. July 13, 1991. The New York Times.
- News: Reviews/Music; Reshuffle in Romberg New Moon. Allan Kozinn. July 24, 1988. The New York Times.
- News: Review/City Opera; Bride Arrives, Without Her Fidelity. September 6, 1991. Edward Rothstein. The New York Times.
- News: Review/City Opera; A Barbiere Worthy of Trust With Both Head and Heart. Bernard Holland. The New York Times . August 31, 1992.
- News: Review/Music; New Milieu for Monroe: City Opera's Marilyn. Edward Rothstein. October 8, 1993. The New York Times.
- Web site: John Lankston. Ovrtur. 2021.
- News: Opera Review; Puccini in Rare Form, But Also Pure Puccini. Bernard Holland. March 6, 1995. The New York Times.
- News: Music Review; Harvey Milk, a Gay Opera as a Grand Coming-Out Party. Bernard Holland. April 6, 1995. The New York Times.
- News: Music Review; Resurrecting a Daydream of the Exotic East. Bernard Holland. October 21, 1995. newspaperThe New York Times.
- News: Opera Review; France, Anti-Semitism and an Innocent Man. Alex Ross. April 4, 1996. The New York Times.
- The Agony and the Ecstasy: City Opera makes a gallant attempt to stage Hindemith's Mathis der Maler. New York. Peter G. Davis. September 25, 1995.
- News: Opera Review; In Long-Lost Rossini, Tributes to a French King. Allan Kozinn. September 16, 1999. The New York Times.