(Credit: State Opera South Australia)

Former General Director of the State Opera South Australia Stephen Phillips has died.

In a statement, the State Opera South Australia paid tribute to teh General Director and said, “Vale Stephen Phillips, State Opera South Australia’s former General Director passed away last weekend after a long illness. A strong supporter and contributor to our company’s proud history of ‘firsts’ including the first Australian-built Ring Cycle in 2004 and the first international performance of Jake Heggie’s “Dead Man Walking” and many other contemporary operas.”

Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, Phillips moved to Australia in 1973 and began working with the Sydney Opera House shortly after it opened.

He went on to become the General Director of State Opera South Australia in 1995 and held the position until 2011. During his tenure, he was influential in presenting two Ring Cycles and the premieres of “Dead Man Walking,” “Little Women,” “Moby-Dick,” and Ligeti’s “Le Grand Macabre.”

For his work in opera, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.