South African bass-baritone George Stevens has died at the age of 51. The bass-baritone was undergoing surgery, which caused his death.

An acting director of the Opera School at the University of Cape Town, the bass-baritone became principal baritone at Staatstheater Bremen in Germany from 1998 to 2006 and won the Kurt-Hübner Prize for “most convincing singer and actor with extraordinary stage presence.”

Stevens launched his international solo career in 2007 and went on to perform on numerous international stages. He also became a recognized Verdi bass-baritone and went on to perform numerous Rossini roles, as well as songs and oratorios. He shared the stage with such notable performers as Colin Lee and Pretty Yende.

Stevens is survived by his father and his wife, Zoë.