Conductor, born in Schenectady, NY. He played oboe with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (1943--6), was a staff conductor at Sadler's Wells Opera (1949--53), and returned there in 1970 as musical director, having established an international reputation. Subsequent conducting posts have included the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and Welsh National Opera (musical director, 1987--92). A noted scholar of the music of Janáchaek, he was knighted in 1979.