British operatic bass Richard Angas has died at the age of 71 after collapsing at a rehearsal for Opera North’s centenary production of Peter Grimes.

Angas was principal bass with English National Opera for 15 years, and was known especially for more than 150 performances in Sir Jonathan Miller’s much-revived production of The Mikado - appearing in the original cast in 1986 and most recently in 2012. He also appeared in Berg’s Lulu and Jonathan Harvey’s Wagner Dream for Welsh National Opera earlier this year.

Angas enjoyed a successful European career and was based for a number of years in Germany. He made his debut with ENO in 1980’s production of Aida and during his 15 years as company principal appeared in varied roles, including the title character in Donizetti's Don Pasquale and as Alcindoro in Miller’s production of La bohème. Among his many roles for Opera North were Old Adam in Ruddigore, while at Opera Holland Park he was Dikoj in Katya Kabanova and for Garsington Opera he played Pistol in Falstaff.

‘I owe a great deal to Richard Angas,’ said Miller. ‘Apart from the fact that he was one of the great performers in a long-lasting production of The Mikado, he was one of the most convivial professional companions whose company I enjoyed for many, many years.’

A DVD recording of ENO’s The Mikao was released in 2005. Angas also appears on a recording of Peter Grimes from Opernhaus Zürich under Franz Welser-Möst and in Jonathan Harvey’s Wagner Dream under Martyn Brabbins for Cypres Records.