- He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1974 Queen's New Years Honours List before being awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 1979 Queen's New Years Honours, and awarded the CH (Companion of Honour) in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to music.
- Born to Australian parents and raised there.
- He was awarded the AC Companion of the Order of Australia in the 1997 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to music. He was also awarded the Czech Republic's Medal of Merit (1996) and honorary doctorates from several universities.
- After emigrating to Britain in 1947, he received a British Council scholarship to study with the Czech conductor Vaclav Talich in Prague, where he conceived his love for Czech music - and in particular, Leos Janácek.
- His Australian father was working in the USA for the General Electric Company when he was born. The family returned to Australia when he was age 2.
- Won two Grammys for best opera recording: 1981 for Leos Janácek's "House of the Dead" and 2007 for Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel".
- Orchestra conductor and oboist.
- He had the honor of conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra on the opening night of the iconic Sydney Opera House in 1973.
- Lisson Grove, London, England (May 2009)
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