American-born, German-domiciled bass Rodney Godshall has died at the age of 81.

Born on May 26, 1944, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, the bass began his career at the Santa Fe Opera, where he was an Apprentice in 1964, 1966, and 1967. Throughout his time as an apprentice, he performed in such productions as “La bohème,” “Salome, “Gianni Schicchi,” and “L’enfant et les sortilèges.”

He went on to appear in productions at the Seattle Opera, New York City Opera, and Washington Opera and later moved to Germany, where he sang at Regensburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Bielefeld, Hanover, Dortmund, Mannheim, and Deutsche Oper am Rhein.

He performed such roles as Sarastro, Osmin, King Philip, Padre Guardiano, Prince Gremin, the Water Spirit, Alvise, Timur, Daland, and Gurnemanz. He was also well known for Lieder.