At the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, where in 2001 he celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of his début with the company, he has sung over forty roles. He recently also celebrated his twentieth anniversary of his début at the Metropolitan Opera, New York.

Equally renowned on the concert platform, he appears in recital in the United Kingdom, throughout Europe, in Australia and America, and has appeared with the world's great orchestras and conductors. The greatest part of his repertoire has been extensively recorded.

In the New Year's Honours of 1989 he was created a Commander of the British Empire and, in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was made a Knight Bachelor.