Stephen Gould has announced his retirement from the stage.

The American tenor’s agency released a statement that said, “For health reasons, Stephen Gould is unfortunately forced to cancel all upcoming engagements. This decision is extremely difficult for him. However, he looks back with gratitude on his thirty-year career and the opportunity to meet and work with so many outstanding colleagues and artistic personalities in important operatic productions and concert projects around the globe.”

The statement added, “Stephen Gould is one of the most important heroic tenors of the last three decades. In May 2015 he was awarded the title of “Österreichischer Kammersänger” at the Vienna State Opera. The fact that he had to cancel in this summer three productions in Bayreuth at short notice has caused consternation and sadness in the classical music world and among his enthusiastic followers. Stephen Gould will concentrate fully on his health for the time being. There is still one dream he would like to fulfill: to have more time to pass on his experience to young talented singers. We wish Stephen Gould a speedy recovery.”

Gould recently canceled his participation at the Bayreuth Festival due to health reasons and was set to return to the Deutsche Oper Berlin for “Tannhäuser” in November and December.

Throughout his career, Gould has performed at some of the greatest theaters in the world in Valencia, Bayreuth, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Zurich, New York London, Tokyo, Dresden, Berlin, Birmingham, Vienna, Paris, Berlin, and La Coruña.